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notesbynnenna's Reviews (513)
3.5 stars
I’ve been meaning to read this book since the beginning of this year and I’m so glad I finally got around to it. The Freeman family has been selected by the Tonybee Institute for a unique opportunity. They will adopt a chimpanzee into their family, treat him like a family member and teach him sign language. As you can imagine, each member of the family feels differently about this experience and we follow them as they begin their new life at the Institute.
The premise is certainly wacky and different, which is what drew me in initially. The author uses this premise to explore race. The Freeman family is black and hearing that they’ve been selected to participate in an ‘experiment’ automatically raises some flags, as we know that horrible things have been done to black people in the name of science. There’s a fascinating overlap between race and language in this novel as well. Greenidge writes about the way that race can affect the way that your words are interpreted, and how language can be racially coded. There is language both spoken and unspoken, since the family communicates orally and with sign language. In one anecdote, we learn that the mother of the family stopped speaking for a period of time when she was younger. When she spoke, her words could be twisted or misinterpreted, so instead, she communicated with handwritten notes.
The novel is also about growing up, and how lonely and confusing it can be. Compound that with the fact that they’re black and newcomers, and you can understand why Charlotte, the teenager in this family, feels so isolated. It’s human nature to want to be seen, known, and loved, and Charlotte tries to navigate those feelings throughout the book.
I thought this was a well-written, insightful debut novel. The book is written from various perspectives, including members of the Freeman family, and a character in the past. Race is one of the main themes, but the author also discusses class, family relationships, sexuality, and more. I was reading this book right before and after the election and it felt really timely. I identified with the “otherness” that the characters were experiencing because I was feeling it too. I found this to be a very compelling read and I think that if the premise interests you, you should definitely give it a try.
I’ve been meaning to read this book since the beginning of this year and I’m so glad I finally got around to it. The Freeman family has been selected by the Tonybee Institute for a unique opportunity. They will adopt a chimpanzee into their family, treat him like a family member and teach him sign language. As you can imagine, each member of the family feels differently about this experience and we follow them as they begin their new life at the Institute.
The premise is certainly wacky and different, which is what drew me in initially. The author uses this premise to explore race. The Freeman family is black and hearing that they’ve been selected to participate in an ‘experiment’ automatically raises some flags, as we know that horrible things have been done to black people in the name of science. There’s a fascinating overlap between race and language in this novel as well. Greenidge writes about the way that race can affect the way that your words are interpreted, and how language can be racially coded. There is language both spoken and unspoken, since the family communicates orally and with sign language. In one anecdote, we learn that the mother of the family stopped speaking for a period of time when she was younger. When she spoke, her words could be twisted or misinterpreted, so instead, she communicated with handwritten notes.
The novel is also about growing up, and how lonely and confusing it can be. Compound that with the fact that they’re black and newcomers, and you can understand why Charlotte, the teenager in this family, feels so isolated. It’s human nature to want to be seen, known, and loved, and Charlotte tries to navigate those feelings throughout the book.
I thought this was a well-written, insightful debut novel. The book is written from various perspectives, including members of the Freeman family, and a character in the past. Race is one of the main themes, but the author also discusses class, family relationships, sexuality, and more. I was reading this book right before and after the election and it felt really timely. I identified with the “otherness” that the characters were experiencing because I was feeling it too. I found this to be a very compelling read and I think that if the premise interests you, you should definitely give it a try.
Finished this last night and I was SO sad that it was over. I just had to sit there and soak it all in for a while. Celeste Ng has done it again!
This was such a fun read! How do you deal with an unwanted proposal? That’s something that our main character, Nik, has to figure out when she finds herself the recipient of an unexpected proposal.
I loved that our two main characters were people of color. Nik is African-American, and her love interest, Carlos, is Latinx. The author definitely touched on issues that people of color face, which I appreciated. I also enjoyed that Nik is a self-professed feminist. She prides herself on being independent and on giving a voice to women of color in her work.
As a sucker for romcoms, I was totally into this story. Both Nik and Carlos are wary when it comes to love. Nik in particular, has had experiences in the past that hurt her and shaped the way she viewed relationships. Reading about her experiences made me feel bad about the heartache she had to go through. I was definitely rooting for her and hoping that she’d be able to open herself up to love again.
Overall, I thought this was a great lighter read with substance, and I can’t wait to go back and read her other novel soon.
I loved that our two main characters were people of color. Nik is African-American, and her love interest, Carlos, is Latinx. The author definitely touched on issues that people of color face, which I appreciated. I also enjoyed that Nik is a self-professed feminist. She prides herself on being independent and on giving a voice to women of color in her work.
As a sucker for romcoms, I was totally into this story. Both Nik and Carlos are wary when it comes to love. Nik in particular, has had experiences in the past that hurt her and shaped the way she viewed relationships. Reading about her experiences made me feel bad about the heartache she had to go through. I was definitely rooting for her and hoping that she’d be able to open herself up to love again.
Overall, I thought this was a great lighter read with substance, and I can’t wait to go back and read her other novel soon.
This was the perfect December read. Our main character, Jess, lives in a flatshare in Notting Hill, and one of flatmates, Alex, happens to be be super attractive and sweet and kind. She starts to form a crush on him, but when she comes back from a holiday, she realizes that he's involved with someone else. Jess tries to move on, but it's hard to get away when your dream guy lives just down the hall!
I loved the Christmasy setting in London at the start of the book and Jess seemed like someone I’d like to be friends with. The story is told from both Jess's and Alex's perspectives over the course of a year.
I also enjoyed how both Jess and Alex decided to make big career changes late in their twenties. Jess moves to London to pursue her dream of working in publishing and Alex gives up a high-paying corporate lawyer job to retrain as a nurse. It shows that it's neer too late to make changes and live your life the way you want to.
I thought this was so charming and it's definitely a read I’d recommend if you’re looking for something light and seasonally appropriate!
I loved the Christmasy setting in London at the start of the book and Jess seemed like someone I’d like to be friends with. The story is told from both Jess's and Alex's perspectives over the course of a year.
I also enjoyed how both Jess and Alex decided to make big career changes late in their twenties. Jess moves to London to pursue her dream of working in publishing and Alex gives up a high-paying corporate lawyer job to retrain as a nurse. It shows that it's neer too late to make changes and live your life the way you want to.
I thought this was so charming and it's definitely a read I’d recommend if you’re looking for something light and seasonally appropriate!
4.5 stars
I wasn't expecting this to be so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. It's a story about a 10 year-old boy named Auggie who was born with a facial deformity. At the beginning of the book, he starts going to school with other kids for the first time and we follow his journey as he struggles to be accepted.
Man, this one certainly tugged on my heartstrings. Auggie is such a sweet boy and school is just one of the many things he's had to endure in his short life. What got to me the most were the people who didn't intend or even realize they were being mean to Auggie. They'd make comments that they thought were harmless, but were really insensitive. He'd know the exact moment when someone saw his face for the first time and notice their reactions. At some point in the book, he talks about how he only has a few friends, but that's all he needs, and he's so right. A handful of true, loyal friends are worth a pack of superficial ones.
Writing from a child's perspective is not an easy feat and I think Palacio did an excellent job in this book. I'm not sure if this book is considered middle-grade or YA, but really I think it can be read by a wide range of ages. The lesson is important and universal- we could all stand to be a lot kinder to each other.
I wasn't expecting this to be so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. It's a story about a 10 year-old boy named Auggie who was born with a facial deformity. At the beginning of the book, he starts going to school with other kids for the first time and we follow his journey as he struggles to be accepted.
Man, this one certainly tugged on my heartstrings. Auggie is such a sweet boy and school is just one of the many things he's had to endure in his short life. What got to me the most were the people who didn't intend or even realize they were being mean to Auggie. They'd make comments that they thought were harmless, but were really insensitive. He'd know the exact moment when someone saw his face for the first time and notice their reactions. At some point in the book, he talks about how he only has a few friends, but that's all he needs, and he's so right. A handful of true, loyal friends are worth a pack of superficial ones.
Writing from a child's perspective is not an easy feat and I think Palacio did an excellent job in this book. I'm not sure if this book is considered middle-grade or YA, but really I think it can be read by a wide range of ages. The lesson is important and universal- we could all stand to be a lot kinder to each other.
3.5 stars
Kezia, Nathaniel and Victor were really good friends in college, but then they graduated, moved to different cities and started to drift apart. Many years later, they’re reunited at the wedding of another college friend. At this wedding, Victor accidentally falls asleep in the groom’s mother’s bedroom. When he comes to, the groom’s mother has discovered him; the two of them start conversing and she reveals a family secret, telling him a story about a long-lost necklace. Victor decides to try and find this necklace and the story takes off from there.
There’s another interesting layer to this novel, and that’s the author’s inclusion of the short story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant. This story served as inspiration for this book and is also incorporated into the plot. I really enjoyed this blend of history with the present and it made me want to sit down and read the short story (which I still need to do!).
I liked Crosley’s writing- it’s clever in a subtle and cheeky way. I also think she did a great job developing the characters. They felt like fully-formed people to me. Crosley explores the theme of friendship in a set of characters that are still on the path to “adulthood.” With older friends, it’s interesting to consider if you would befriend the person they are today (if you weren’t already friends with them). Naturally, people change, for better or worse, and the person you first became friends with may not really exist years later.
Although the plot did become rather outlandish, I enjoyed this novel and the questions it raised. I’m curious if I’d enjoy her nonfiction works (I Was Told There’d Be Cake and How Did You Get This Number?) more or less than her first novel.
Kezia, Nathaniel and Victor were really good friends in college, but then they graduated, moved to different cities and started to drift apart. Many years later, they’re reunited at the wedding of another college friend. At this wedding, Victor accidentally falls asleep in the groom’s mother’s bedroom. When he comes to, the groom’s mother has discovered him; the two of them start conversing and she reveals a family secret, telling him a story about a long-lost necklace. Victor decides to try and find this necklace and the story takes off from there.
There’s another interesting layer to this novel, and that’s the author’s inclusion of the short story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant. This story served as inspiration for this book and is also incorporated into the plot. I really enjoyed this blend of history with the present and it made me want to sit down and read the short story (which I still need to do!).
I liked Crosley’s writing- it’s clever in a subtle and cheeky way. I also think she did a great job developing the characters. They felt like fully-formed people to me. Crosley explores the theme of friendship in a set of characters that are still on the path to “adulthood.” With older friends, it’s interesting to consider if you would befriend the person they are today (if you weren’t already friends with them). Naturally, people change, for better or worse, and the person you first became friends with may not really exist years later.
Although the plot did become rather outlandish, I enjoyed this novel and the questions it raised. I’m curious if I’d enjoy her nonfiction works (I Was Told There’d Be Cake and How Did You Get This Number?) more or less than her first novel.
4.5 stars
This book felt like a beautiful indie film to me. It was quiet, evocative, and completely drew me in. The main characters are Saeed and Nadia, two people who fall in love in a time just before their country is devastated by a civil war. However, contrary to what I thought before I started reading it, this book is less about the love story, and more about the horrors of war and what people have to do to survive.
The tone is detached and somewhat wistful and whimsical. The detachment doesn't prevent you from connecting with the characters, and perhaps it is necessary in order to process the terrible events that take place. The idea is that horrible things happen, but as things get worse, the original horrors start to feel almost normal (which is its own type of horror).
There's certainly a lot to think about in this novel, particularly in relation to the themes of displacement and migration. The situation becomes so untenable that Saeed and Nadia decide they must flee. They have to leave behind their friends, their family, and everything that they previously knew. Hamid describes what it's like to be a refugee and how refugees are treated (unsurprisingly and sadly, the answer is not very well). We see Saeed and Nadia struggle to build and settle into new lives, apart from their previous lives.
Magical realism is a tool used subtly in this book and it fits in quite naturally with the story. The entire book is graceful and thought-provoking. People suffer and struggle, but in some ways, it's amazing that people are able to live through and survive these experiences. I think this is an important and worthwhile read, particularly given the current state of affairs.
This book felt like a beautiful indie film to me. It was quiet, evocative, and completely drew me in. The main characters are Saeed and Nadia, two people who fall in love in a time just before their country is devastated by a civil war. However, contrary to what I thought before I started reading it, this book is less about the love story, and more about the horrors of war and what people have to do to survive.
The tone is detached and somewhat wistful and whimsical. The detachment doesn't prevent you from connecting with the characters, and perhaps it is necessary in order to process the terrible events that take place. The idea is that horrible things happen, but as things get worse, the original horrors start to feel almost normal (which is its own type of horror).
There's certainly a lot to think about in this novel, particularly in relation to the themes of displacement and migration. The situation becomes so untenable that Saeed and Nadia decide they must flee. They have to leave behind their friends, their family, and everything that they previously knew. Hamid describes what it's like to be a refugee and how refugees are treated (unsurprisingly and sadly, the answer is not very well). We see Saeed and Nadia struggle to build and settle into new lives, apart from their previous lives.
Magical realism is a tool used subtly in this book and it fits in quite naturally with the story. The entire book is graceful and thought-provoking. People suffer and struggle, but in some ways, it's amazing that people are able to live through and survive these experiences. I think this is an important and worthwhile read, particularly given the current state of affairs.
Thank you to Gallery Books for giving me a free copy of this book for review!
This was definitely a #bookstagrammademedoit read! I kept seeing this book everywhere and I've heard great things about Christina Lauren (who is really an author duo writing under one name). I decided to pack this book with me on vacation recently. I'm patting myself on the back for making that call because this was the perfect summer read.
Our main character, Olive, has a twin sister named Ami. When Ami gets food poisoning at her wedding (what a nightmare scenario!), she offers up her nonrefundable honeymoon to Olive. The only problem is that Dane, the groom, has offered up his spot to his brother Ethan. Too bad Olive and Ethan hate each other, and he's the last person she would want to travel with. However, the trip to Hawaii is too good of an opportunity to pass up, so she decides to go anyway and make the best of a bad scenario. But can they really make it through a 10-day vacation together?
This was such a fun read. I enjoyed Olive and Ethan as characters and I was into their back-and-forth banter. Also, a good chunk of the book is set in Hawaii, which just seems so romantic. I mean, if you're going to fall in love with your nemesis, why not do it in paradise, right?
I can totally see this being turned into a great rom-com movie adaptation. The writing was funny and so engaging. Sure, it was predictable and uncomplicated, but that's exactly what I was looking for at the moment. I'll definitely be picking up more of their books. Who knows, this might be the summer of Christina Lauren for me!
//
This was the perfect vacation read
This was definitely a #bookstagrammademedoit read! I kept seeing this book everywhere and I've heard great things about Christina Lauren (who is really an author duo writing under one name). I decided to pack this book with me on vacation recently. I'm patting myself on the back for making that call because this was the perfect summer read.
Our main character, Olive, has a twin sister named Ami. When Ami gets food poisoning at her wedding (what a nightmare scenario!), she offers up her nonrefundable honeymoon to Olive. The only problem is that Dane, the groom, has offered up his spot to his brother Ethan. Too bad Olive and Ethan hate each other, and he's the last person she would want to travel with. However, the trip to Hawaii is too good of an opportunity to pass up, so she decides to go anyway and make the best of a bad scenario. But can they really make it through a 10-day vacation together?
This was such a fun read. I enjoyed Olive and Ethan as characters and I was into their back-and-forth banter. Also, a good chunk of the book is set in Hawaii, which just seems so romantic. I mean, if you're going to fall in love with your nemesis, why not do it in paradise, right?
I can totally see this being turned into a great rom-com movie adaptation. The writing was funny and so engaging. Sure, it was predictable and uncomplicated, but that's exactly what I was looking for at the moment. I'll definitely be picking up more of their books. Who knows, this might be the summer of Christina Lauren for me!
//
This was the perfect vacation read
Thank you to Scribner Books for giving me a free copy of this book for review!
You've probably heard about this book, or at least seen it around. I really feel like this book was everywhere, for months leading up its publication. Sometimes books that are super hyped make me want to run in the opposite direction, but I was actually really intrigued by the plot of this one. And having finished it now, I have to say that I thought it was excellent. The hype is accurate!
I think I was most impressed by the structure of this novel and the characters. It's told interview style, and we hear accounts from the band members, as well as other people that were in their orbit. Felt like it made for a very rich, nuanced view of the history of the band. I'm not sure I've read another book written like this, so it felt refreshing to read such a different style. And I can picture this working SO well as an adaption, which is probably why the TV rights have already been snapped up by Amazon.
At first it felt like a lot of different characters to keep track of, but soon it became easy to remember who was who. I thought Reid did an excellent job of creating unique voices for each character. I felt like I was really able to understand and picture each character, particularly the members of the band.
This book was so engaging! I wanted to know everything about this fictional band, and Daisy Jones in particular. It was fascinating to see the way that memory and perspective played into the story. These characters are looking back on their lives and the decisions they made, so of course there were a lot of things realized in hindsight.
I thought Daisy Jones was such a compelling character. She's this strong woman who's made a lot of mistakes in her life, but at the same time, she's accomplished things with her music that people can only dream of.
I loved the music aspect of it as well. I think music can be so powerful and it was cool to read about them creating these songs and all the meaning behind them and how their lives and feelings and struggles bled so much into the music.
I sometimes imagine what it would be like to be an artist and to have pieces of your soul out in the world for people to love or hate. This book portrays the artist life and what it's like to be on top of the world, and also the toll it takes on you as a person. I think when yo
You can fail over and over and over again, and it could still be possible for you to turn your life around.
The rock and roll life seems like such a glamorous life, but there are currents running beneath the surface that most people don't see. It was also interesting to see the power dynamics between the band members, and how each person felt about their role in the band and the band as a whole.
The writing was so visceral. I could see everything so clearly in my head and I felt the emotions they were feeling. If you can't tell by now, I really I loved this book and I can't wait to read more books by TJR.
5/5 stars
Queenie
GR Version:
Oh, Queenie!
First of all, can we just talk about how great this cover is? It feels like a celebration of black hair, which I love. And honestly, this cover and a recent conversation with my hair stylist is making me want to get box braids again.
This book was one of my two BOTM picks for March (the other one was Daisy Jones, which I loved). It follows a young Jamaican-British woman living in London, who doesn't really have her life together, but she's trying.
It was great to read a book centered around a young black female protagonist in a contemporary setting. I loved all the British lingo as well, since it reminded me of my cousins, who live in the UK and are some of the coolest people I know.
While I thought many of Queenie's decisions were questionable, I was rooting really hard for her success. I definitely found some of her experiences relatable, and cringed at both the overt and subtle racism she had to deal with in her everyday life. I also like that the author didn't shy away from Queenie's mental health struggles, as I feel like there's still such a stigma around mental health and seeking help, particularly in black communities.
I also enjoyed the way the book incorporated emails and texts in the story; I've always had a thing for epistolary novels. The tone is very relatable and humorous, even though she's dealing with a lot. I feel like there's a lot to identify with in this book, even if you haven't had the exact same experiences as Queenie. She's young, she's struggling, and she's just trying to figure out her life. I think a lot of us have been there. I'd definitely recommend this one if you're looking for a read that's both amusing and a bit heartbreaking.
IG Version:
Thanks for all of your helpful feedback last week when I asked if you prefer to read reviews on bookstagram vs. Goodreads! It seems like several people post shorter reviews here and longer reviews on Goodreads, so I'm going to give that a try. Diving into the review below and if you want to read the full version, I just posted it on Goodreads (link in bio)!
.....
Oh, Queenie!
First of all, can we just talk about how great this cover is? It feels like a celebration of black hair, which I love. And honestly, this cover and a recent conversation with my hair stylist is making me want to get box braids again.
This book was one of my two @bookofthemonth picks for March (the other one was Daisy Jones, which I loved). It follows a young Jamaican-British woman living in London, who doesn't really have her life together, but she's trying.
It was great to read a book centered around a young black female protagonist in a contemporary setting. While I thought many of Queenie's decisions were questionable, I was rooting really hard for her success. The tone is very relatable and humorous, even though she's dealing with a lot.
I feel like there's a lot to identify with in this book, even if you haven't had the exact same experiences as Queenie. She's young, she's struggling, and she's just trying to figure out her life. I think a lot of us have been there. I'd definitely recommend this one if you're looking for a read that's both amusing and a bit heartbreaking.
5/5 stars
Her Body and Other Parties
I've only briefly dabbled in short stories before. In fact, I can't even remember the last short story collection that I read before this, so feel free to take my review with a grain of salt! It did feel good to branch out though, and try something a bit outside my usual reading comfort zone.
I really enjoyed Her Body and Other Parties. All together, there are eight stories. I loved that they focused on female characters and featured LGBTQ+ characters. These stories touch on marriage, motherhood, death, life, and many other things in-between. There are also magical realism and speculative fiction elements woven into these stories about women.
The writing was beautiful and I thought the imagery in particular was gorgeous. She has this way of describing things so that you feel like the words have come to life before you. It felt like she was painting a scene with her words.
I thought the first story was excellent. It was captivating and a bit raw, and just really made me appreciate what some authors can do in a short amount of space. The third story also stood out to me. It's told in little vignettes, which written as descriptions of various SVU episodes. At first, I didn't really like or understand that writing choice. As I kept reading however, it began to grow on me and I appreciate that story for challenging my notion of what a short story should be.
I appreciated the raw energy of these stories and how Machado wasn't afraid to play around and get a bit weird. If this review piqued your interest at all, then I'd definitely recommend this collection!
4/5 stars
Conversations with Friends
Sally Rooney's name has been everywhere recently (or at least it seems that way)! I wanted to jump on the bandwagon and see what the hype was about. After some debate, I decided to start with her first book, CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS.
This book follows Frances and Bobbi, two twenty-somethings who become entangled with a charming, older couple named Melissa and Nick. The book is told from Frances's perspective and it's really a character study on her and her relationships with each of the other main characters.
Sooooo, it took me a while to gather my thoughts on this one and I still have mixed feelings about it. Honestly, I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about it. I need to talk to someone about it!
Frances is rather apathetic. She doesn't care about a career or making money really, except when it comes to having enough to live on. At times, it feels like Frances is just pretending to be an adult. She's still so young (she's 21) and doesn't really know what she wants out of life yet. So in that vein, her aimlessness is understandable.
I think the merits of this book lie in the writing and the characters (although I also thought the characters were somewhat insufferable and pretentious). In her writing, Rooney is good at capturing particular feelings. Feelings about not knowing exactly who you are or who you want to be. I thought the best bits of this book were Rooney's observations about people and her ability to demonstrate how messy relationships can be.
After I finished the book, I was kind of like "huh" (and for the record, I did not like the ending). I read most of this book over the course of two days. During that time, I wanted to keep reading, but at the same time, I don't think I was fully enjoying it. Despite that, there's a quality to her writing that drew me in and kept me turning the pages. I think what it comes down to is that I was hoping to really love this one, but sadly, I didn't (I liked it, but I didn't love it).
Really curious to hear other people's thoughts on this one! If you've read it, did you love it or hate it? If you've also read NORMAL PEOPLE, how did this one compare?
3.5/5 stars
The Wedding Date
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!
4/5 stars
Good Girl, Bad Girl
Thank you to Scribner Books for giving me a free copy of this book for review!
I think this is the best mystery I've read so far this year. Actually, it may be the only mystery that I've read this year, but still!
One of our main characters, Cyrus, is a psychologist. When his friend asks him to come in and observe one of the young women at a local children's home, Cyrus is not sure what to expect. Six years ago, the young woman, Evie Cormac, was found in an abandoned home, the same home where police discovered the body of a man who'd been tortured to death. Years of neglect and sexual abuse have left Evie withdrawn, distrustful, and prone to violent outbursts. It's up to Cyrus to determine whether she's stable enough to be released from the children's home.
At the same time, Cyrus is also working with the police on a recent murder case. Jodie Sheehan, a young, beautiful, Olympic-hopeful figure skater, has been murdered near her home in Nottingham. As Cyrus interviews Jodie's family, a web of lies begins to emerge. Cyrus's focus is divided between these two young women as he tries to discover who killed Jodie and determine how to help Edie confront the trauma of her past.
I thought this novel was really well written and engrossing. I was fascinated by the relationship between Cyrus and Evie, two people who understand trauma. Another interesting aspect is that Evie has the ability to tell when people are lying. She's basically a human lie detector. I thought this plot point might be a bit cheesy, but it's actually woven into the story well, and adds another layer into Cyrus's investigation of both Evie and Jodie's murder case.
The book alternates between two perspectives: Cyrus's and Evie's. I'm glad we were able to delve into both of their heads to get a better sense of what they were thinking and how they were feeling. I was intrigued by the story the whole time I was reading, and I just think the storytelling was really strong in this book.
There are really two storylines going on here. Jodie's murder is definitely the focus, with Evie's story woven in throughout, but I almost wish the reverse were true. I wanted to know what had happened in Evie's past that made her the person she is today. By the end, I was left with more questions about Evie than answers, so I really hope there is a follow-up novel with these characters.
The author makes a point of noting that the line between "good" and "bad" is not firm. Sometimes it doesn't take much for someone to cross from one side to the other, and sometimes these labels are inaccurately applied to people (such as, perhaps, Evie and Jodie).
This was a dark and disturbing tale and I couldn't stop turning the pages. I can definitely see this being made into a movie adaptation as well (maybe with Michael Fassbender playing Cyrus??). This was the first novel I've read by Michael Robotham and I can't wait to read more of his work.
You've probably heard about this book, or at least seen it around. I really feel like this book was everywhere, for months leading up its publication. Sometimes books that are super hyped make me want to run in the opposite direction, but I was actually really intrigued by the plot of this one. And having finished it now, I have to say that I thought it was excellent. The hype is accurate!
I think I was most impressed by the structure of this novel and the characters. It's told interview style, and we hear accounts from the band members, as well as other people that were in their orbit. Felt like it made for a very rich, nuanced view of the history of the band. I'm not sure I've read another book written like this, so it felt refreshing to read such a different style. And I can picture this working SO well as an adaption, which is probably why the TV rights have already been snapped up by Amazon.
At first it felt like a lot of different characters to keep track of, but soon it became easy to remember who was who. I thought Reid did an excellent job of creating unique voices for each character. I felt like I was really able to understand and picture each character, particularly the members of the band.
This book was so engaging! I wanted to know everything about this fictional band, and Daisy Jones in particular. It was fascinating to see the way that memory and perspective played into the story. These characters are looking back on their lives and the decisions they made, so of course there were a lot of things realized in hindsight.
I thought Daisy Jones was such a compelling character. She's this strong woman who's made a lot of mistakes in her life, but at the same time, she's accomplished things with her music that people can only dream of.
I loved the music aspect of it as well. I think music can be so powerful and it was cool to read about them creating these songs and all the meaning behind them and how their lives and feelings and struggles bled so much into the music.
I sometimes imagine what it would be like to be an artist and to have pieces of your soul out in the world for people to love or hate. This book portrays the artist life and what it's like to be on top of the world, and also the toll it takes on you as a person. I think when yo
You can fail over and over and over again, and it could still be possible for you to turn your life around.
The rock and roll life seems like such a glamorous life, but there are currents running beneath the surface that most people don't see. It was also interesting to see the power dynamics between the band members, and how each person felt about their role in the band and the band as a whole.
The writing was so visceral. I could see everything so clearly in my head and I felt the emotions they were feeling. If you can't tell by now, I really I loved this book and I can't wait to read more books by TJR.
5/5 stars
Queenie
GR Version:
Oh, Queenie!
First of all, can we just talk about how great this cover is? It feels like a celebration of black hair, which I love. And honestly, this cover and a recent conversation with my hair stylist is making me want to get box braids again.
This book was one of my two BOTM picks for March (the other one was Daisy Jones, which I loved). It follows a young Jamaican-British woman living in London, who doesn't really have her life together, but she's trying.
It was great to read a book centered around a young black female protagonist in a contemporary setting. I loved all the British lingo as well, since it reminded me of my cousins, who live in the UK and are some of the coolest people I know.
While I thought many of Queenie's decisions were questionable, I was rooting really hard for her success. I definitely found some of her experiences relatable, and cringed at both the overt and subtle racism she had to deal with in her everyday life. I also like that the author didn't shy away from Queenie's mental health struggles, as I feel like there's still such a stigma around mental health and seeking help, particularly in black communities.
I also enjoyed the way the book incorporated emails and texts in the story; I've always had a thing for epistolary novels. The tone is very relatable and humorous, even though she's dealing with a lot. I feel like there's a lot to identify with in this book, even if you haven't had the exact same experiences as Queenie. She's young, she's struggling, and she's just trying to figure out her life. I think a lot of us have been there. I'd definitely recommend this one if you're looking for a read that's both amusing and a bit heartbreaking.
IG Version:
Thanks for all of your helpful feedback last week when I asked if you prefer to read reviews on bookstagram vs. Goodreads! It seems like several people post shorter reviews here and longer reviews on Goodreads, so I'm going to give that a try. Diving into the review below and if you want to read the full version, I just posted it on Goodreads (link in bio)!
.....
Oh, Queenie!
First of all, can we just talk about how great this cover is? It feels like a celebration of black hair, which I love. And honestly, this cover and a recent conversation with my hair stylist is making me want to get box braids again.
This book was one of my two @bookofthemonth picks for March (the other one was Daisy Jones, which I loved). It follows a young Jamaican-British woman living in London, who doesn't really have her life together, but she's trying.
It was great to read a book centered around a young black female protagonist in a contemporary setting. While I thought many of Queenie's decisions were questionable, I was rooting really hard for her success. The tone is very relatable and humorous, even though she's dealing with a lot.
I feel like there's a lot to identify with in this book, even if you haven't had the exact same experiences as Queenie. She's young, she's struggling, and she's just trying to figure out her life. I think a lot of us have been there. I'd definitely recommend this one if you're looking for a read that's both amusing and a bit heartbreaking.
5/5 stars
Her Body and Other Parties
I've only briefly dabbled in short stories before. In fact, I can't even remember the last short story collection that I read before this, so feel free to take my review with a grain of salt! It did feel good to branch out though, and try something a bit outside my usual reading comfort zone.
I really enjoyed Her Body and Other Parties. All together, there are eight stories. I loved that they focused on female characters and featured LGBTQ+ characters. These stories touch on marriage, motherhood, death, life, and many other things in-between. There are also magical realism and speculative fiction elements woven into these stories about women.
The writing was beautiful and I thought the imagery in particular was gorgeous. She has this way of describing things so that you feel like the words have come to life before you. It felt like she was painting a scene with her words.
I thought the first story was excellent. It was captivating and a bit raw, and just really made me appreciate what some authors can do in a short amount of space. The third story also stood out to me. It's told in little vignettes, which written as descriptions of various SVU episodes. At first, I didn't really like or understand that writing choice. As I kept reading however, it began to grow on me and I appreciate that story for challenging my notion of what a short story should be.
I appreciated the raw energy of these stories and how Machado wasn't afraid to play around and get a bit weird. If this review piqued your interest at all, then I'd definitely recommend this collection!
4/5 stars
Conversations with Friends
Sally Rooney's name has been everywhere recently (or at least it seems that way)! I wanted to jump on the bandwagon and see what the hype was about. After some debate, I decided to start with her first book, CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS.
This book follows Frances and Bobbi, two twenty-somethings who become entangled with a charming, older couple named Melissa and Nick. The book is told from Frances's perspective and it's really a character study on her and her relationships with each of the other main characters.
Sooooo, it took me a while to gather my thoughts on this one and I still have mixed feelings about it. Honestly, I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about it. I need to talk to someone about it!
Frances is rather apathetic. She doesn't care about a career or making money really, except when it comes to having enough to live on. At times, it feels like Frances is just pretending to be an adult. She's still so young (she's 21) and doesn't really know what she wants out of life yet. So in that vein, her aimlessness is understandable.
I think the merits of this book lie in the writing and the characters (although I also thought the characters were somewhat insufferable and pretentious). In her writing, Rooney is good at capturing particular feelings. Feelings about not knowing exactly who you are or who you want to be. I thought the best bits of this book were Rooney's observations about people and her ability to demonstrate how messy relationships can be.
After I finished the book, I was kind of like "huh" (and for the record, I did not like the ending). I read most of this book over the course of two days. During that time, I wanted to keep reading, but at the same time, I don't think I was fully enjoying it. Despite that, there's a quality to her writing that drew me in and kept me turning the pages. I think what it comes down to is that I was hoping to really love this one, but sadly, I didn't (I liked it, but I didn't love it).
Really curious to hear other people's thoughts on this one! If you've read it, did you love it or hate it? If you've also read NORMAL PEOPLE, how did this one compare?
3.5/5 stars
The Wedding Date
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!
4/5 stars
Good Girl, Bad Girl
Thank you to Scribner Books for giving me a free copy of this book for review!
I think this is the best mystery I've read so far this year. Actually, it may be the only mystery that I've read this year, but still!
One of our main characters, Cyrus, is a psychologist. When his friend asks him to come in and observe one of the young women at a local children's home, Cyrus is not sure what to expect. Six years ago, the young woman, Evie Cormac, was found in an abandoned home, the same home where police discovered the body of a man who'd been tortured to death. Years of neglect and sexual abuse have left Evie withdrawn, distrustful, and prone to violent outbursts. It's up to Cyrus to determine whether she's stable enough to be released from the children's home.
At the same time, Cyrus is also working with the police on a recent murder case. Jodie Sheehan, a young, beautiful, Olympic-hopeful figure skater, has been murdered near her home in Nottingham. As Cyrus interviews Jodie's family, a web of lies begins to emerge. Cyrus's focus is divided between these two young women as he tries to discover who killed Jodie and determine how to help Edie confront the trauma of her past.
I thought this novel was really well written and engrossing. I was fascinated by the relationship between Cyrus and Evie, two people who understand trauma. Another interesting aspect is that Evie has the ability to tell when people are lying. She's basically a human lie detector. I thought this plot point might be a bit cheesy, but it's actually woven into the story well, and adds another layer into Cyrus's investigation of both Evie and Jodie's murder case.
The book alternates between two perspectives: Cyrus's and Evie's. I'm glad we were able to delve into both of their heads to get a better sense of what they were thinking and how they were feeling. I was intrigued by the story the whole time I was reading, and I just think the storytelling was really strong in this book.
There are really two storylines going on here. Jodie's murder is definitely the focus, with Evie's story woven in throughout, but I almost wish the reverse were true. I wanted to know what had happened in Evie's past that made her the person she is today. By the end, I was left with more questions about Evie than answers, so I really hope there is a follow-up novel with these characters.
The author makes a point of noting that the line between "good" and "bad" is not firm. Sometimes it doesn't take much for someone to cross from one side to the other, and sometimes these labels are inaccurately applied to people (such as, perhaps, Evie and Jodie).
This was a dark and disturbing tale and I couldn't stop turning the pages. I can definitely see this being made into a movie adaptation as well (maybe with Michael Fassbender playing Cyrus??). This was the first novel I've read by Michael Robotham and I can't wait to read more of his work.
My goodness, this was a heartbreaking read. Roy and Celestial are young newlyweds with a bright future ahead of them, until Roy is wrongfully convicted of a crime. It’s told from multiple perspectives as the couple tries to grapple with this event that’s derailed their lives.
This looks at the disproportionate incarceration of black Americans, something that’s been a major problem for decades. Oooof, this was a bit tough to read at times. I felt bad for all of the main characters in this because it’s a terrible situation to be in. I was rooting for them so hard.
The story moves through time fairly quickly, but the best part was how well the author conveyed the emotion and heartbreak of the story. The writing and emotions felt raw and honest.
We all make mistakes and life may throw you a curveball, but sometimes you can rebuild and pick up the pieces. You can’t start over though because those previous experiences will always be there and they have shaped you into the person you are now.
This looks at the disproportionate incarceration of black Americans, something that’s been a major problem for decades. Oooof, this was a bit tough to read at times. I felt bad for all of the main characters in this because it’s a terrible situation to be in. I was rooting for them so hard.
The story moves through time fairly quickly, but the best part was how well the author conveyed the emotion and heartbreak of the story. The writing and emotions felt raw and honest.
We all make mistakes and life may throw you a curveball, but sometimes you can rebuild and pick up the pieces. You can’t start over though because those previous experiences will always be there and they have shaped you into the person you are now.