sertzo19's reviews
5 reviews

The Only One Left by Riley Sager

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I started this book on vacation and really only got the chance to read like 10 pages at a time. Eventually I hit a point where I couldn’t put it down and found myself trying to read it as often as possible and then BAM- I hit the third act and could not put it down. Is THE ONLY ONE LEFT soapy and silly? Yes. Did I have to suspend a looooot of disbelief throughout? Also yes. Did I mind having to do any of that to enjoy this novel? Not one bit! As an avid fan of telenovelas, I was fully strapped in for this story and the third act full of shocks and twists had me squealing gleefully until the very last twist which left me with more than a few tears in my eyes. If you’re into gothic mysteries, you will devour this book. It was an excellent beach read!
And the Category Is...: Inside New York's Vogue, House, and Ballroom Community by Ricky Tucker

Go to review page

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.5

AND THE CATEGORY IS is a fascinating dive into the past, present and future of ballroom culture. It’s a wonderful supplement to all the media we know and love surrounding the movement including Pose, Paris Is Burning, The Queen and Legendary. Ricky Turner does an excellent job at capturing so much history that’s been lost and beautifully ties together so many thought provoking questions about the meaning and the value of art. 

Would have rated it higher if the author hadn’t spent so much of the story talking about himself. 🤷🏽‍♂️ This book really flies high when Ricky is immersed in ballroom and kinda loses steam anytime he dives into his academic antics or pulls focus from the main subject. Still, it’s a great read that should be required for all LGBTQIA+ people who find themselves even just casually interested in ballroom, voguing and the history of BIPOC in NYC.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

5.0

In The Dream House is one of my favorite memoirs in recent memory. Carmen Maria Machado is a literary genius and the poetic style in which she pieces together such painful moments in her life pierces right through the heart. This is not a story for the faint of heart. It’s a story that is full of grief and pain but that is also filled with light and meditative reflections.
The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

3.5

The House of Hidden Meanings will be an interesting read full of valuable nuggets of wisdom for the uninitiated or even casual RuPaul fan. For those of us who have followed his career for decades, either through Drag Race, his podcast, talk shows or even just his music… there’s not much here we haven’t already heard ad-nauseam. The first 3/4 of this memoir feel a little too perfectly curated and designed to help us understand that RuPaul was a superstar from before he was born and ok cool great fantasy but where’s the substance? Thankfully, once Ru hits NYC he hits on a nerve of vulnerability we’ve never really really explored throughout his journey. I really appreciated and enjoyed reading about his real struggles with friendships, trying to make it in the city and with his partner Georges. Sadly, as soon as the story really hits its stride, it’s over and we haven’t really dug deep enough to make this as reflective an experience as I think RuPaul thinks he’s written. 
Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere by Maria Bamford

Go to review page

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

If you love Maria Bamford, you will no doubt love this book! It’s as fun, twisted, sad and (potentially) relatable as you’d expect. Oftentimes I found myself pivoting from tears to laughs (within the same paragraph). My main problem with Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult is that it takes a few chapters to get into the rhythm of Maria’s writing style but once you’re tuned in, it’s a breeze! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...