probablyjenna's reviews
351 reviews

Model Home by Rivers Solomon

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Model Home by Rivers Solomon is a really clever, thoughtful rework of the haunted house genre. Solomon holds us at arms length the entire book, letting the slow burn haunt of the home make readers question just exactly what is going on. The novel doesn’t even take place in the house, which is a unique choice - much of the haunting is done through flashbacks and current processing of the main characters.

I think this is a book for people who enjoy slower, contemporary horror. The writing is really beautiful, carving out the clear trauma main character Ezri has lived through. As a reader, we don’t quite know what the trauma stems from or how Ezri has become the person they are in the present day. Solomon asks you to trust that they can take you on this journey, and that the story will bring you to the side of understanding. They do not overindulge or over inform; I really respect an author who can maintain that balance of leaving readers confused while also still moving the plot forward in a way that will eventually make sense.

While there are some tangential parts of the book that I think could have been edited down, I think the content itself is brilliant and unique. It’s hard to talk too much about the plot without giving things away; this is one best experienced blindly, although if you are sensitive I’d recommend checking trigger warnings. 

I am grateful to have read an eARC, and excited to purchase a physical copy once it comes out! Solomon is absolutely someone to watch. Also, a major shout out for their authors note, where they remark on how pointless things feel given the current state of the world, specifically commenting on the need for a freed Palestine. I am grateful they finished this book, but also grateful to know this is an author not afraid to speak truths about the world. 

The Skin and Its Girl by Sarah Cypher
Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.

Bored 😭

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

4.0

This is a really poetic, surrealist deep dive into depression. It totally submerges you in the brain of someone who is truly struggling, using fairy tale imagery to make it clear that depression is something that often makes you feel far from the “real world.” It was strange, dreamy, sad, and hopeful; I found myself tabbing the book quite a bit because the writing itself is so ethereal & lovely.

I read this in one sitting, then had to sit and think about it for a while. While some of the more fantastical magic elements might not work for every reader, I think most people will find themselves deeply enchanted by the character of Whimsy.

Where You End by Abbott Kahler

4.0

Where You End is a strange, surreal look into the memories that haunt us. I was instantly taken with Abbott Kahler’s somewhat literary writing style, and loved how expertly she made me feel just as clueless and vulnerable as the main character, Kat. 

Kat wakes from a coma with no memory of her previous life, with one exception: she remembers the name and face of her identical twin, Jude. The first half of the novel is filled with Kat trying to remember who she was before the accident, with Jude filling in the blanks along the way. However, pretty quickly it becomes clear that Jude isn’t being entirely honest. What follows is Kat’s twisty, sometimes confusing, journey to discover what is real and who she used to be.

I could see some readers finding this book a bit jarring. You really have to trust the process and immerse yourself into the story; you have to accept that you are mainly in Kat’s POV, therefore you are on the journey of discovery which is absolutely not straightforward. You do get occasional flashback chapters from Jude’s POV, but those often just make you even more uncertain. Again, I think Kahler is masterful in making her readers truly sit with the characters and live this story out right beside them.

Overall, I was a big fan! It was a fun, dark story that went in directions I didn’t entirely expect.

Almost Surely Dead by Amina Akhtar

3.0

I was very confused upon finishing this book, but the good news is that I think the author was just as confused as me 😂

This book has lots of plot hole issues, but it’s still a super fun, fast read. Just don’t think too hard after finishing it lol

Perfect Little Monsters by Cindy R.X. He

4.0

I think this was a wildly fun book - think Mean Girls meets murder mystery. I was glued to the page, eager to find out what exactly happened and who was guilty. The build up of suspense was excellent.

There is a bug twist toward the end, and while I guessed pieces of it, I was still pretty surprised at how things ended up. I also love how intentional the author was; once the final twist was revealed, I was able to think back to earlier parts of the book and see the thread that was leading up to those ending moments.

There is definitely an interesting conversation to have about mental illness and its portrayal in the book; I don’t want to get into it here so I can avoid spoilers, but would be happy to answer any questions (or discuss it if you’ve read the book.) 

For me, this book was a major win. It was entertaining, fast paced, and has an important message about the impact of bullying. Would definitely recommend, especially if you’re trying to get out of a reading slump!

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

4.5

**rounding up from a 4.5**

SA Cosby is an auto buy author for me and I truly think he is brilliant. No other author portrays the south quite like he does, bringing difficult characters to life & even generating sympathy for individuals I’d normally just scoff at.

Sinners is no exception; I think Titus Crown might be my favorite main character in a Cosby book. His struggles with guilt, loss of faith, and desire for justice were really well written, and I especially loved the relationship he had with his ultra religious father. 

I do think this is one of Cosby’s heavier books, and would recommend looking at trigger warnings if you tend to be sensitive about crime novels. Cosby handles it really well, but the content of the book is certainly one that will stick with you. 

I found some parts of this book to be a bit repetitive, but it wasn’t too big of a deal. A lot of it was meant to reinforce the themes of guilt & loss of faith, and were important parts of Crown’s character.

Ultimately, this was another slam dunk from Cosby. I love living in a world where he is writing books! Can’t wait to see what he gives us next. 

My Side of the River by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez

4.0

My Side of the River follows the childhood and young adulthood of Elizabeth Camarillo Guitierrez as she navigates life in the United States as the daughter of immigrants. At age 15, her parents are forced to make the difficult decision to return to Mexico, prompting young Elizabeth to make a difficult choice of her own: to remain in the US in order to finish her education and go to college.

Elizabeth’s story is filled with resilience and pain; she has a clear goal to “be the best” but has to figure out how to make that happen as a kid essentially living on her own. By the end of the memoir, I felt a sense of pride in Elizabeth after reading all the challenges she endured and overcame.

As a memoir, I did feel like this lacked just a bit. She jumps around from one big event to the next, and doesn’t always go into the emotions behind what happened. I also prefer memoirs to have a bit more reflection, which just might not be possible for someone who is still so young and still figuring things out. All that aside, I can think of many kids I’ve taught over the years who would benefit from reading this book - I know they would feel seen in Elizabeth’s story, and that is something truly important.

Overall, I think this is a worthwhile memoir and I’m excited to see what Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez does with her life! Clearly, it will be something great. 

It's a Privilege Just to Be Here by Emma Sasaki

challenging funny reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

It’s A Privilege Just to be Here has a blurb that says it’s for fans of Little Fires Everywhere and Such A Fun Age, and I am here to say I fully support this endorsement! This book is a perfect companion to both of those novels, while also bringing its own singular voice to the table.

The story follows a veteran teacher Aki Hiyashi-Brown who works at a very prestigious private school in Washington DC; she initially took the job so she’d be able to send her own daughter, Meg, to the school, something that would have been impossible without the faculty discount/financial aid. However, in Meg’s junior year a racist message is graffitied onto one of the school buildings, and it brings a lot of the school’s more insidious beliefs and practices to light. Aki finds herself, a Japanese-American woman, caught between wanting her initial desire to simply be grateful to be present at such a prestigious institutions, and her daughter’s adamant demands to take a stand.

I absolutely devoured this book, and am blown away that it’s a debut novel. It is clever, hard hitting, and quietly provocative. Aki’s struggle is so well written; the relationship between her and Meg feels real and frustrating. You are supposed to feel mad at points in this book; I loved Emma Sasaki’s ability to draw out a moment so readers could truly feel it.

The audiobook was superb! The narrator did a fantastic job and I’d definitely listen to more books narrated by her.

Overall, this is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year and I can’t wait to see what else Sasaki creates!

James by Percival Everett

adventurous emotional funny tense fast-paced

5.0

I think James is an absolutely brilliant and one of a kind literary experience. One of a kind, despite being a loose retelling of Huck Finn. A good retelling brings something new to the table, spins the narrative in a way that enriches the original material, and causes you to rethink what you already know (or think you know), and James does that flawlessly.

This book uses humor really purposefully; Percival Everett forces you to think while you laugh, using his power of observation & wit to send messages about race, power, and pain. This is my first book by Everett, but I am eagerly looking forward to diving into his backlog.

I’m familiar with the story of Huck Finn, but have never actually read the entire thing. That did not detract from my enjoyment of James at all, largely because James stanza so singularly as its own story. The life Everett breathes into each character is stunning, refreshing an old story and truly making it into something uniquely his own.

I really can’t recommend this one enough. It’s easily in my top books of the year so far.