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sam_anker_'s reviews
79 reviews
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
3.0
The book follows Marin over the period of four days (but also flashbacks of a few months?), seeing her best friend for the first time in 4 months after she fled the state and moved across the country. The theme of the book is closely centered around grief, about losing someone, losing the idea of someone, and losing yourself. It really was a beautiful book, but the combination of it being in both the first person AND present tense made it feel kinda awkward to read. For the last 20% of the book (thank you kindle) I did cry, like the whole goddamn time, as Marin finally explained the strange end to her grandfathers life and big lies. But lesbians!
Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Not going to lie, forgot about the book like halfway through so I kinda forgot a good chunk of the first half, but the second half was VERY interesting and I’m excited to see where this goes in the third book 👀 also a lot more smushy lovey feelings in this book that I’m allowed to have a little, as a treat
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado
1.0
I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t actually finish this one. Like, I know it’s a book for high schoolers that I willingly picked out, but it felt young. The main character felt childish, and the author would literally write in emojis. Like, SAY “eye roll emoji” and use hashtags.
Also, I’ve been trying to pick books about fat girls and this seems to be a trend amongst all of the ones I’ve read, but it’s so obnoxious when the only character trait is that they’re FAT! Like babe I get it. Why do they have to find love DESPITE their weight? Why can’t they just drop in a “oh I’m a size 20” and then move about as normal. I get it, and to be fair I was more focused on my weight and thought everyone was thinking about that in high school too, but it just annoyed me in this book. And as someone trying to move past this kinda logic, I’m not sure having this weird message pushed in these books is really helpful.
I don’t know what else to say, and also this might be kinda mean but I feel like after reading just the little bit of this book I feel better about my own writing
Also, I’ve been trying to pick books about fat girls and this seems to be a trend amongst all of the ones I’ve read, but it’s so obnoxious when the only character trait is that they’re FAT! Like babe I get it. Why do they have to find love DESPITE their weight? Why can’t they just drop in a “oh I’m a size 20” and then move about as normal. I get it, and to be fair I was more focused on my weight and thought everyone was thinking about that in high school too, but it just annoyed me in this book. And as someone trying to move past this kinda logic, I’m not sure having this weird message pushed in these books is really helpful.
I don’t know what else to say, and also this might be kinda mean but I feel like after reading just the little bit of this book I feel better about my own writing
The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite
5.0
ITS SO GOOD! Its so good. I cried at the end. I wish I had something better to say but my mind is mush after reading it. Can’t wait to buy a physical copy Jesus
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
5.0
I delayed my hold this book so many times because I had requested it on a whim, and was sure it wouldn’t live up to the movie. It was so, so much better than the movie.
I think I was immediately drawn in by just the writing style? The book was published in the 80s, but it’s written in a way where it tries to feel older, like how a modern author tries to write a book that takes place in the 1800s. What I think makes this so successful is the tongue-in-cheek humor, the kind of wry humor you have to almost be looking for to find. I laughed out loud quite a bit reading this.
Sophie is also such an incredibly relatable character to me. I’m the eldest of three girls, the younger two who are so much smarter than me, going off to law school or pursuing their doctorates, who both have partners. I still live at home, I work a job I like but I miss that sense of adventure, or going after something greater. I too, am somehow charmed by the cry-baby of a man Howl who despite himself, oozes with slime and sex appeal. Big dumb idiot who loves me? Yes please.
Also Sophie is so incredibly snarky and I love it. I wish I could be that snarky and have people still like me.
I think I was immediately drawn in by just the writing style? The book was published in the 80s, but it’s written in a way where it tries to feel older, like how a modern author tries to write a book that takes place in the 1800s. What I think makes this so successful is the tongue-in-cheek humor, the kind of wry humor you have to almost be looking for to find. I laughed out loud quite a bit reading this.
Sophie is also such an incredibly relatable character to me. I’m the eldest of three girls, the younger two who are so much smarter than me, going off to law school or pursuing their doctorates, who both have partners. I still live at home, I work a job I like but I miss that sense of adventure, or going after something greater. I too, am somehow charmed by the cry-baby of a man Howl who despite himself, oozes with slime and sex appeal. Big dumb idiot who loves me? Yes please.
Also Sophie is so incredibly snarky and I love it. I wish I could be that snarky and have people still like me.