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notesbynnenna's Reviews (513)
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This is described as a “mashup of Agatha Christie’s The A.B.C. Murders and Riverdale in which a game turns deadly with a killer who picks his victims one by one, letter by letter.” Although this doesn’t live up to Christie’s books, like Riverdale, the book is set in one of those small towns where everyone knows everyone.
I loved the premise of this, but I felt like the dialogue was all over the place and the pacing stuttered. There were moments where the action ramped up, but otherwise I wanted more tension and mystery. I didn’t feel that emotional connection and the stakes didn’t feel high enough.
Although I had some gripes, I did enjoy some elements of the book. The main character’s best friend is non-binary, and I appreciated that representation being included. I think this is my first time reading a YA book with a nonbinary character, so that’s something I definitely want to work on.
2.5 stars
This is described as a “mashup of Agatha Christie’s The A.B.C. Murders and Riverdale in which a game turns deadly with a killer who picks his victims one by one, letter by letter.” Although this doesn’t live up to Christie’s books, like Riverdale, the book is set in one of those small towns where everyone knows everyone.
I loved the premise of this, but I felt like the dialogue was all over the place and the pacing stuttered. There were moments where the action ramped up, but otherwise I wanted more tension and mystery. I didn’t feel that emotional connection and the stakes didn’t feel high enough.
Although I had some gripes, I did enjoy some elements of the book. The main character’s best friend is non-binary, and I appreciated that representation being included. I think this is my first time reading a YA book with a nonbinary character, so that’s something I definitely want to work on.
2.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
I was so excited for the sequel to AMERICAN ROYALS and it did not disappoint! I still think the premise of this series is brilliant: what if America was actually a monarchy? I’ve always been fascinated by the royals (more so older royalty like Henry VIII vs. the current royals) and I love the way that McGee weaves American history with royal traditions.
There is so much drama in this book. So much drama. I loved it- give me all the messy teenage drama! Like if this were a CW show with hot adult actors pretending to be teenagers, I would watch the hell out of it! Whenever something scandalous happened in the book, I would react and look around, wishing I had someone to discuss it with. I enjoyed seeing the growth of the characters that we met in the first book and the way McGee explores the idea of breaking with tradition and forming your own path.
This was honestly just such a fun read. There HAS to be a third book, right?? The series can’t end like this- I need to know what happens next!
//
Drama, drama, drama!
I was so excited for the sequel to AMERICAN ROYALS and it did not disappoint! I still think the premise of this series is brilliant: what if America was actually a monarchy? I’ve always been fascinated by the royals (more so older royalty like Henry VIII vs. the current royals) and I love the way that McGee weaves American history with royal traditions.
There is so much drama in this book. So much drama. I loved it- give me all the messy teenage drama! Like if this were a CW show with hot adult actors pretending to be teenagers, I would watch the hell out of it! Whenever something scandalous happened in the book, I would react and look around, wishing I had someone to discuss it with. I enjoyed seeing the growth of the characters that we met in the first book and the way McGee explores the idea of breaking with tradition and forming your own path.
This was honestly just such a fun read. There HAS to be a third book, right?? The series can’t end like this- I need to know what happens next!
//
Drama, drama, drama!
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
I’m on a YA kick at the moment and this was another great read. HE MUST LIKE YOU is a contemporary YA book featuring Libby, a senior in high school, whose life is falling apart. Her parents have recently informed her that she has to move out once she graduates and that the college fund they’d saved for her is gone. On top of that, she has a pretty confusing sexual experience with one of her coworkers, and at work she has to deal with an influential local businessman who harrasses all of the female servers. You can’t really blame her when she’s pushed over the edge one night and dumps a pitcher of sangria all over said businessman, but then she’s forced to manage the fallout of her actions in a small town where people like to gossip.
I thought this was a really interesting and engaging read. The author explores family relationships, rape culture, and consent and discusses how confusing sexual experiences can be, especially when you’re a teenager. I certainly didn’t learn about this stuff in high school and I really wish I had. We see Libby learn that sexual assault and harrasment can take many different forms and it’s a painful realization.
What I loved most about Libby is that she really comes into her own throughout this story. She breaks down, but then she seeks help to confront her problems, and that’s such a brave thing to do. I thought Libby was really believable as a character thanks to the writing. I felt like the author was able to capture that teenager essence.
This book deals with difficult subjects, but I thought the author handled the discussion around consent with care and nuance. I imagine reading about Libby’s experiences could help someone who’s in a similar situation, and I’m glad this book exists.
I’m on a YA kick at the moment and this was another great read. HE MUST LIKE YOU is a contemporary YA book featuring Libby, a senior in high school, whose life is falling apart. Her parents have recently informed her that she has to move out once she graduates and that the college fund they’d saved for her is gone. On top of that, she has a pretty confusing sexual experience with one of her coworkers, and at work she has to deal with an influential local businessman who harrasses all of the female servers. You can’t really blame her when she’s pushed over the edge one night and dumps a pitcher of sangria all over said businessman, but then she’s forced to manage the fallout of her actions in a small town where people like to gossip.
I thought this was a really interesting and engaging read. The author explores family relationships, rape culture, and consent and discusses how confusing sexual experiences can be, especially when you’re a teenager. I certainly didn’t learn about this stuff in high school and I really wish I had. We see Libby learn that sexual assault and harrasment can take many different forms and it’s a painful realization.
What I loved most about Libby is that she really comes into her own throughout this story. She breaks down, but then she seeks help to confront her problems, and that’s such a brave thing to do. I thought Libby was really believable as a character thanks to the writing. I felt like the author was able to capture that teenager essence.
This book deals with difficult subjects, but I thought the author handled the discussion around consent with care and nuance. I imagine reading about Libby’s experiences could help someone who’s in a similar situation, and I’m glad this book exists.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
It was hard to focus on reading during the past week, but over the weekend, I finished reading FURIA. It’s an #ownvoices YA book about a young woman named Camila who dreams of being a professional soccer player. She has some big obstacles to deal with though, including having to hide her dreams from her parents because they don’t approve of girls playing.
In FURIA, the author writes about family dynamics, violence against women, chasing dreams, and more. As I mentioned, I grew up in a soccer-loving family, so I really enjoyed that soccer played a huge role in this story. I also liked the writing and appreciated that the author included Spanish words throughout the book.
Camila has a lot of heart and I loved her for that. I loved that she unapologetically pursues her goals, even when no one believes in her but herself. Camila’s story is a reminder that it can be really hard to be a girl in this world, especially if you’re someone who wants to break away from the mold of what society expects from girls.
3.5 stars
It was hard to focus on reading during the past week, but over the weekend, I finished reading FURIA. It’s an #ownvoices YA book about a young woman named Camila who dreams of being a professional soccer player. She has some big obstacles to deal with though, including having to hide her dreams from her parents because they don’t approve of girls playing.
In FURIA, the author writes about family dynamics, violence against women, chasing dreams, and more. As I mentioned, I grew up in a soccer-loving family, so I really enjoyed that soccer played a huge role in this story. I also liked the writing and appreciated that the author included Spanish words throughout the book.
Camila has a lot of heart and I loved her for that. I loved that she unapologetically pursues her goals, even when no one believes in her but herself. Camila’s story is a reminder that it can be really hard to be a girl in this world, especially if you’re someone who wants to break away from the mold of what society expects from girls.
3.5 stars
Elizabeth Acevedo is an author that I’ve wanted to read for the longest time, and now I’ve finally read my first book by her! CLAP WHEN YOU LAND is the story of two sisters who find out about each other when their dad dies tragically in a plane crash.
So many people have recommended Acevedo’s audiobooks, so I decided to give audiobooks another go. I listened to this on audio, but also simultaneously followed along in my physical copy at some points. And I have to say that you all were right- the audiobook was excellent.
The two things I loved most about this book were the writing and the characters. I thought the writing was beautiful, impactful, and lyrical, and that last aspect particularly comes through when you listen to it on audio. I loved both of our main characters, Yahaira and Camino, and they felt like rich, fully-realized characters to me.
This is a story about family and how messy it can be when secrets come to light. It’s also about grief and grappling with the realization that your loved one isn’t who you thought they were. Acevedo explores sisterhood as well, and what that might look like if you don’t grow up together and find each other later in life.
One passage in particular struck me when she was describing what it’s like to leave a place that you love, and it’s a reminder that the pursuit of the “American dream” often comes with a lot of sacrifice. It was also interesting to learn that this book was based on an actual event, which I hadn’t heard of before since it was overshadowed by the aftermath of 9/11.
This was such a good YA read (my streak continues!) and I can’t wait to read more of Acevedo’s work.
4.5 stars
So many people have recommended Acevedo’s audiobooks, so I decided to give audiobooks another go. I listened to this on audio, but also simultaneously followed along in my physical copy at some points. And I have to say that you all were right- the audiobook was excellent.
The two things I loved most about this book were the writing and the characters. I thought the writing was beautiful, impactful, and lyrical, and that last aspect particularly comes through when you listen to it on audio. I loved both of our main characters, Yahaira and Camino, and they felt like rich, fully-realized characters to me.
This is a story about family and how messy it can be when secrets come to light. It’s also about grief and grappling with the realization that your loved one isn’t who you thought they were. Acevedo explores sisterhood as well, and what that might look like if you don’t grow up together and find each other later in life.
One passage in particular struck me when she was describing what it’s like to leave a place that you love, and it’s a reminder that the pursuit of the “American dream” often comes with a lot of sacrifice. It was also interesting to learn that this book was based on an actual event, which I hadn’t heard of before since it was overshadowed by the aftermath of 9/11.
This was such a good YA read (my streak continues!) and I can’t wait to read more of Acevedo’s work.
4.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
I’ve never read anything by Nina LaCour before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was a quietly beautiful novel about a girl named Mila who wants nothing more than to find a place she can call home. When the story begins, Mila accepts a position to teach young children and live on a farm. This is her chance to belong somewhere, to have a fresh start, and to escape the bad thing that happened in her past.
This is my kind of ghost story- eerie and haunting, rather than scary. With Mila, there was an overwhelming sense of her yearning to belong, to fit in, to be included. Having lost all of her family for various reasons, she has to instead find her own.
I found the writing very atmospheric and descriptive, and I thought the pacing was good. The foreshadowing in the beginning of the book intrigued me and I really wanted to know what happened in Mila’s past. There’s such sadness, pain, and loneliness in this story. My heart ached for Mila and all that she had to endure.
If you’re looking for a quietly haunting story about trauma, found family, and second chances, then this just might be the book for you.
I’ve never read anything by Nina LaCour before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was a quietly beautiful novel about a girl named Mila who wants nothing more than to find a place she can call home. When the story begins, Mila accepts a position to teach young children and live on a farm. This is her chance to belong somewhere, to have a fresh start, and to escape the bad thing that happened in her past.
This is my kind of ghost story- eerie and haunting, rather than scary. With Mila, there was an overwhelming sense of her yearning to belong, to fit in, to be included. Having lost all of her family for various reasons, she has to instead find her own.
I found the writing very atmospheric and descriptive, and I thought the pacing was good. The foreshadowing in the beginning of the book intrigued me and I really wanted to know what happened in Mila’s past. There’s such sadness, pain, and loneliness in this story. My heart ached for Mila and all that she had to endure.
If you’re looking for a quietly haunting story about trauma, found family, and second chances, then this just might be the book for you.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
I was tempted to save this one for winter (I mean look at that cover!), but I’ve been in the mood for a thriller, so I picked this up on a Sunday and read it one day.
I thought this was a fun read, another solid thriller from Ruth Ware. I’m realizing that I really enjoy locked door mysteries and I thought a remote chalet in the French Alps was the perfect setting. I will say that I guessed who the killer was fairly early on and I felt that most of the characters were underdeveloped. So yes, it was a bit predictable, but I still thought it was a fun read, perfect for when you want to blast through a book in a day. THE TURN OF THE KEY is still my favorite book of hers, but I preferred this one to some of her earlier books.
3.5 stars
I was tempted to save this one for winter (I mean look at that cover!), but I’ve been in the mood for a thriller, so I picked this up on a Sunday and read it one day.
I thought this was a fun read, another solid thriller from Ruth Ware. I’m realizing that I really enjoy locked door mysteries and I thought a remote chalet in the French Alps was the perfect setting. I will say that I guessed who the killer was fairly early on and I felt that most of the characters were underdeveloped. So yes, it was a bit predictable, but I still thought it was a fun read, perfect for when you want to blast through a book in a day. THE TURN OF THE KEY is still my favorite book of hers, but I preferred this one to some of her earlier books.
3.5 stars
“To be a woman is to be a sacrifice.”
I have to say, THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING ended up surprising me. Now that it’s spooky season, I was in the mood for a witchy read, and this book was at the top of my list.
Our main character, Immanuelle has a shameful past. She is the result of her mother’s illicit relationship with an outsider, which cast her family into disgrace. Immanuelle lives in a very pious society where girls stop going to school at the age of 12 and where women are marked with a symbol once they are wed. Because of her origin story and because of her race (her father was Black), she is an outsider in this society. She soon starts to realize though that the Holy Scriptures she’s been taught have been twisted to only suit certain people. If she wants things to change for the better, she will have to be the one to spark that change.
This started rather slow for me. For the first half or so, I was enjoying it, but I did wish that the pace was a bit faster. Then came the second half, when the stakes get even higher, and I felt that it was stronger than the first.
The way that Outskirters, Black people, are confined to the fringes of this society and expected to assimilate with the remaining townspeople reminded me of the way that religion was used to keep enslaved people enslaved. In this novel, we see how those in power will do and say anything to remain in power. They will claim to be acting on behalf of the greater good, but in truth, they are only out for self. And women are being hurt and taken advantage of, all in the name of the Holy Scriptures.
I thought it was pretty fascinating the way the author wove race, religion, magic, and gender together in this story. The magic was quite dark and gruesome at times and the atmosphere of this book did give me lowkey Handmaid’s Tale vibes. Two things I would have loved to see: more time spent with Vera and more time spent with the people who lived in the Outskirts. I would have liked to learn more about them, what they believed in, and how they existed alongside this society that didn’t want them.
The second half really altered my opinion about this book and the ending had me at the edge of my seat. In the end, I thought this was a great debut novel with thought-provoking commentary on a society that claims to be good and righteous, but has so much darkness lurking just beneath the surface.
I have to say, THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING ended up surprising me. Now that it’s spooky season, I was in the mood for a witchy read, and this book was at the top of my list.
Our main character, Immanuelle has a shameful past. She is the result of her mother’s illicit relationship with an outsider, which cast her family into disgrace. Immanuelle lives in a very pious society where girls stop going to school at the age of 12 and where women are marked with a symbol once they are wed. Because of her origin story and because of her race (her father was Black), she is an outsider in this society. She soon starts to realize though that the Holy Scriptures she’s been taught have been twisted to only suit certain people. If she wants things to change for the better, she will have to be the one to spark that change.
This started rather slow for me. For the first half or so, I was enjoying it, but I did wish that the pace was a bit faster. Then came the second half, when the stakes get even higher, and I felt that it was stronger than the first.
The way that Outskirters, Black people, are confined to the fringes of this society and expected to assimilate with the remaining townspeople reminded me of the way that religion was used to keep enslaved people enslaved. In this novel, we see how those in power will do and say anything to remain in power. They will claim to be acting on behalf of the greater good, but in truth, they are only out for self. And women are being hurt and taken advantage of, all in the name of the Holy Scriptures.
I thought it was pretty fascinating the way the author wove race, religion, magic, and gender together in this story. The magic was quite dark and gruesome at times and the atmosphere of this book did give me lowkey Handmaid’s Tale vibes. Two things I would have loved to see: more time spent with Vera and more time spent with the people who lived in the Outskirts. I would have liked to learn more about them, what they believed in, and how they existed alongside this society that didn’t want them.
The second half really altered my opinion about this book and the ending had me at the edge of my seat. In the end, I thought this was a great debut novel with thought-provoking commentary on a society that claims to be good and righteous, but has so much darkness lurking just beneath the surface.
Everyone who raved about this book was right- it is excellent. I fell in love with her writing from the introduction. It just grabbed me immediately, like she was saying “Look at these people and these stories that I’m going to tell. Don’t look away.”
I loved the way she told these stories about day laborers, housekeepers, construction workers, and more, the people that “don’t inspire hashtags or T-shirts.” Rather than translating her interviews word for word, she wove them into a powerful narrative so that these people come alive on the page.
I didn’t know what it meant to be a day laborer and how they are often taken advantage of. I didn’t know about the undocumented people who worked at Ground Zero, and who became sick years later from the toxic environment. I didn’t know about the physical toll that being undocumented takes on people (headaches, ulcers, trouble sleeping, and more).
This is a short book and you could read it one sitting, but I wanted to read it in chunks to let each chapter sink in. These stories about undocumented immigrants are so necessary and important, ones we don’t often hear, but need to hear, because they are Americans too. As hard as it was to read these stories and see how America treats undocumented people, I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to research and write them.
So I will echo everyone else who has said that you need to read this book, especially if you call yourself an American as well.
I loved the way she told these stories about day laborers, housekeepers, construction workers, and more, the people that “don’t inspire hashtags or T-shirts.” Rather than translating her interviews word for word, she wove them into a powerful narrative so that these people come alive on the page.
I didn’t know what it meant to be a day laborer and how they are often taken advantage of. I didn’t know about the undocumented people who worked at Ground Zero, and who became sick years later from the toxic environment. I didn’t know about the physical toll that being undocumented takes on people (headaches, ulcers, trouble sleeping, and more).
This is a short book and you could read it one sitting, but I wanted to read it in chunks to let each chapter sink in. These stories about undocumented immigrants are so necessary and important, ones we don’t often hear, but need to hear, because they are Americans too. As hard as it was to read these stories and see how America treats undocumented people, I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to research and write them.
So I will echo everyone else who has said that you need to read this book, especially if you call yourself an American as well.
I wanted to read this book as soon as I heard about it and I’m happy to report that I loved it!
It’s about a young Nigerian-Canadian woman named Azere, who meets a man named Rafael Castellano and starts to develop feelings for him. There’s just one problem- he is not Nigerian and she promised her parents that she would marry a Nigerian man. As her feelings grow, she has to choose between love and duty, between following her heart or following her parents’ wishes.
I saw a lot of myself in Azere. She’s Nigerian (she’s Edo, but I’m Igbo) and she works in advertising. She’s a dutiful daughter. She loves rom coms and tends to bury her feelings and pretend everything is fine, when it’s not. It me!!! I don’t recall either of my parents ever saying that I had to marry a Nigerian man. But other members of my family have, so I’ve experienced that external pressure to some degree.
I really connected with the way the author wrote about some of the struggles of being an immigrant. I was born here, but I think some of the struggles of being an immigrant and having immigrant parents overlap. Igharo writes about how immigrants chase success, wanting to work hard in their new country to prove that they belong there, while also showing those they might have left behind that they made the right choice when they moved.
She also talks about the struggle of growing up with multiple cultures and how Azere learned to fit into Canadian culture as a survival mechanism. I remember growing up and sometimes feeling suffocated by the Igbo ways that my parents were trying to teach me. I remember thinking, “Why did we have to do things differently? Why can’t we just be normal.” Now that I’m older, I have a better understanding and appreciation of what my parents were trying to do, but even now, my relationship with my Igbo heritage is complicated.
I didn’t mean to go that deep, but now you have a sense of some of the thoughts that surfaced as I was reading this book. The fact that I related a lot to the main character probably makes me biased, but I thought she was a great character and I really sympathized with her struggles. I also enjoyed the writing and how she incorporated some Edo phrases, and there were a couple good steamy scenes as well.
This is a story about love, family, being an immigrant, and choosing a different life than the one you’d envisioned or that was planned for you. I was thrilled when I heard about this romance written by a Nigerian author and for me, it was such a fun, relatable read.
It’s about a young Nigerian-Canadian woman named Azere, who meets a man named Rafael Castellano and starts to develop feelings for him. There’s just one problem- he is not Nigerian and she promised her parents that she would marry a Nigerian man. As her feelings grow, she has to choose between love and duty, between following her heart or following her parents’ wishes.
I saw a lot of myself in Azere. She’s Nigerian (she’s Edo, but I’m Igbo) and she works in advertising. She’s a dutiful daughter. She loves rom coms and tends to bury her feelings and pretend everything is fine, when it’s not. It me!!! I don’t recall either of my parents ever saying that I had to marry a Nigerian man. But other members of my family have, so I’ve experienced that external pressure to some degree.
I really connected with the way the author wrote about some of the struggles of being an immigrant. I was born here, but I think some of the struggles of being an immigrant and having immigrant parents overlap. Igharo writes about how immigrants chase success, wanting to work hard in their new country to prove that they belong there, while also showing those they might have left behind that they made the right choice when they moved.
She also talks about the struggle of growing up with multiple cultures and how Azere learned to fit into Canadian culture as a survival mechanism. I remember growing up and sometimes feeling suffocated by the Igbo ways that my parents were trying to teach me. I remember thinking, “Why did we have to do things differently? Why can’t we just be normal.” Now that I’m older, I have a better understanding and appreciation of what my parents were trying to do, but even now, my relationship with my Igbo heritage is complicated.
I didn’t mean to go that deep, but now you have a sense of some of the thoughts that surfaced as I was reading this book. The fact that I related a lot to the main character probably makes me biased, but I thought she was a great character and I really sympathized with her struggles. I also enjoyed the writing and how she incorporated some Edo phrases, and there were a couple good steamy scenes as well.
This is a story about love, family, being an immigrant, and choosing a different life than the one you’d envisioned or that was planned for you. I was thrilled when I heard about this romance written by a Nigerian author and for me, it was such a fun, relatable read.