pestering's reviews
59 reviews

Lot by Bryan Washington

I liked this by the end, though it took me about half the book to connect with it — really want to check out Memorial after this

M Train by Patti Smith

I feel the same way about this that a lot of people seem to, which is that I came from reading Just Kids—the best book I read last year—and just didn't love this as much, it felt less coherent and I felt a bit lost. I would defo try her other books though.

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

this was so beautiful, I can really see why it's a classic. I loved the way the girls' love for each other was described.

Useless Magic: Lyrics and Poetry by Florence Welch

I think her lyrics are so beautiful. I loved the themes of the poems at the end, too. the internet gets us all in the end

The Summer of Everything by Julian Winters

absolutely horrible writing. I hated this one so bad. constant namedropping of brands in order to be relatable to teenagers felt so cheap. I was especially put off by the constant CONSTANT mentions of netflix and "netflix movies" (when the author could've just... talked about movies generally and it would've worked? netflix originals are known for often being worse than your average movie.) I tried to start counting the netflix namedrops but had to stop as there were so many. 

Ella was an unbearable character I genuinely think that meeting her in person would ruin my day. I was always gonna hate Cooper because I dont like the internet but yeah I dont think I could be in a room with him.

there never seemed to be any explanation given for Wes's beef with Leo...? there was a little exposition given towards the end, bits about their childhood together, but for the most part it was just Wes saying "I hate my stupid brother" and then meeting up with Leo and Leo seeming like a very normal nice guy. I especially hated when Leo asked Wes to help his fiancée to pick a wedding dress and Wes goes, "it's because I'm GAY, isn't it?!" and there's this whole tangent about people assuming gay guys are into fashion. it's so embarrassing to read because I'm like god I swear most gay guys wouldn't get offended by being asked this. I promise. I just hated Wes.

I need to note that there was a sentence that was something like "Wes changed out of his photoshoot clothes like a yolk slipping out of an eggshell," and it struck me as such an oddly beautiful sentence that would feel very at home in a poem or somewhere that isn't this book. it did not fit here at all but maybe this author's talents lie in coming up with more things like that and fashioning some poems out of them.

then again I'm 26 and jaded. I probably would've liked this when I was maybe 13 and if I'd never read a book with gay characters before. but there is so much better than this out there. there is REALLY good teen fiction out here and this is not it. I can't get over all the brands. it's so painful to read.

Floored: When Seven Lives Collide by Melinda Salisbury, Lisa Williamson, Sara Barnard, Tanya Byrne, Eleanor Wood, Non Pratt, Holly Bourne

this was fun and had a lot of heart, I enjoyed it

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

it kinda got me in the end. the whole way through I was like, "I am absolutely not reading the sequels to this," and now I kinda wanna know what the fuck the story with the shoes was.

I did call this My Asshole Friend at some point. she didn't seem that great

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

I was glad to've finished this one. I was getting kind of sick of it. that's on me for not paying attention when some of the characters were being introduced and then being like oh who's this guy. we live and we learn

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

I found this so scary and disturbing that I can't get it out of my head it really got me

A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge

all those ghosties living rent free in her head.... I'd love to have a bear companion in my head that sounds cosy as hell 🐻