You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
t0ast_and_t3a's Reviews (493)
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Even though I could guess what was coming, this was clever, refreshing, and just all around entertaining. I enjoyed the different MC and her quirky (and killer) personality. Lottie’s personality was like if one of the Golden Girls were a serial killer, which really kept me engaged even though the plot was a bit predictable.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was, in a word, fine. It focuses around divorce and its aftermath, cancer and its aftermath, and going back in order to go forward. I loved the story aspect of this narrative, how the MC told her kids stories from her childhood, from a culture they weren’t really raised in. However, I really wanted more from the stories—maybe a deeper connect to them for the MC instead of this call-to approach they had.
As for the minor characters, they fell a bit flat for me. Maybe that was the point? The MC is richly detailed, since we get her POV throughout, but the way she interacts with others often feels off. Again, maybe that’s the point and it just missed the mark for me?
Overall, on a sentence level this novel was well written, but even in the aftermath, I’m struggling to find what the central theme was—like, what was the point? Narratively, it has long, fragmented chapters, but they don’t feel split by themes or stories or pivotal points really.
I liked and disliked the MC, but in the end, a mid-rating feels right for this.
As for the minor characters, they fell a bit flat for me. Maybe that was the point? The MC is richly detailed, since we get her POV throughout, but the way she interacts with others often feels off. Again, maybe that’s the point and it just missed the mark for me?
Overall, on a sentence level this novel was well written, but even in the aftermath, I’m struggling to find what the central theme was—like, what was the point? Narratively, it has long, fragmented chapters, but they don’t feel split by themes or stories or pivotal points really.
I liked and disliked the MC, but in the end, a mid-rating feels right for this.
Incredibly slow paced and I didn’t feel attached to the characters. The premise was intriguing, but neither perspective really held my attention.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked how this story played with time. How the MC seemed to slip back and forth until she decided what she wanted, who she wanted to be. While some of it is predictable, the characters are beautifully written and the pace is balanced throughout the story. The theme of finding happiness, of accepting it isn’t a fixed state is so well done.
The setting and premise was uniquely crafted, taking common story arcs and making them feel refreshing. There’s a least one character to relate to, and even more you will recognize, casting them as people you know, and that’s something Espach seems to make look effortless, but with how many characters there are it truly astonishing how she makes it seem so fluid.
Over all, this was a book that makes you feel human, and makes you feel unapologetic about it—especially in a world that makes us define ourselves so absolutely. It’s a story about finding yourself, and about re-finding yourself when you thought you had it all figured out.
The setting and premise was uniquely crafted, taking common story arcs and making them feel refreshing. There’s a least one character to relate to, and even more you will recognize, casting them as people you know, and that’s something Espach seems to make look effortless, but with how many characters there are it truly astonishing how she makes it seem so fluid.
Over all, this was a book that makes you feel human, and makes you feel unapologetic about it—especially in a world that makes us define ourselves so absolutely. It’s a story about finding yourself, and about re-finding yourself when you thought you had it all figured out.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
This was more than I expected. I was intrigued about Doughty’s experience in the business, but also how she learned about the history of how death is perceived and practiced across cultures and throughout time. It was interesting reading about this thing most people ignore out of fear of the unknown in such a detailed and passionate telling.
There are some tough parts to listen to—mostly regarding children and babies, but there’s fair enough warning to avoid those chapters if you want. However, death is a commonality, and comes for all ages and races, and this book gives us an approachable way of looking through a lens we, as humans, ignore out of fear. Doughty shares her own experience with looking death in its face, and her approach to this book, these deeply personal stories, are oddly comforting to read and reflect on.
There are some tough parts to listen to—mostly regarding children and babies, but there’s fair enough warning to avoid those chapters if you want. However, death is a commonality, and comes for all ages and races, and this book gives us an approachable way of looking through a lens we, as humans, ignore out of fear. Doughty shares her own experience with looking death in its face, and her approach to this book, these deeply personal stories, are oddly comforting to read and reflect on.
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well, g*ddamn. Somehow ALL the notes and NO notes. Just one question—have you ever just asked yourself what’s the hell it’s all for? Go ahead, pretend you’d answer “no, not really” if I asked you this in person—but when you’re feeling like you want someone to understand that feeling, to feel as if they cracked open your skull and read your brain like some close-captioned movie, pick this book up.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
No one is more shocked at my overall rating for this book than I am, so let me just start with that. To sum up what I'm about to write in two main points for my TLDR folk: This book was middling and too long.
Longer review:
I thought Bunny was brilliant. Having picked it up shortly after deciding not to pursue an MFA after years of working toward said goal, I read it at the right time in my life, I think. It was dark, the humor was the perfect amount of absurd, and even though I didn't particularly like any of the characters, I understood that was the point.
When this prequel/sequel was announced, I was hopeful. I thought if anyone could execute something so, well...brilliant, once, she could do it again.
So, I will begin with the positives.
Character--Mona Awad has this way of making a character climb their way off the page. You feel everything they feel. You're there with them through every beat in the story, no matter how slow or wild or seemingly inconsequential. Awad has no reservations for making you see the dirtiest, darkest parts of her characters, or the most mundane.
Voice (This will also be one the con side of this review as well)--Each character has their own way of speaking. It's maintained throughout the book, and though I know it took WORK, it comes across as effortless.
Tension--Even though the pacing was all over the place for me, Awad is a master at making you want to know what's coming. While I had to tell myself to pick the book up at times, the last 30% had me in a chokehold.
Some things that missed the mark for me:
Pacing--While I thought it was interesting we got the story from a different perspective, I honestly think the first part was unnecessary. It could have been another "We" section and done what each monologue set out to do in a much better way. It was repetitive and, often, dull. And then we get the ending--and just WOW. There's the Awad I'd been waiting for. But the lead up was a bit shaky.
Voice--Why did we need so many perspectives? What was the point? Even in retrospect, I don't know the answer to either.
Finally, my least favorite part, and I'm sure it's going to be an unpopular opinion, but Aerius--Long story short: "frowny face." Short story long: at first, I loved the idea of his perspective, but it would have been much stronger had it been more focused. We spend WAY too much time with him, and some of it seems a bit pointless. I understand he longed for his own autonomy and that he needed to go through his own arc points, but boy did it lag in some places.
Overall, this IS the promised "Bunny" prequel and sequel. All the open-ended questions at the end of "Bunny" are answered in the end. But I admired the ambiguity of "Bunny" and how it left me curious. In the end, and again, no one is more shocked than I am, but after all 496pages "We Love You, Bunny" made me want less.
No one is more shocked at my overall rating for this book than I am, so let me just start with that. To sum up what I'm about to write in two main points for my TLDR folk: This book was middling and too long.
Longer review:
I thought Bunny was brilliant. Having picked it up shortly after deciding not to pursue an MFA after years of working toward said goal, I read it at the right time in my life, I think. It was dark, the humor was the perfect amount of absurd, and even though I didn't particularly like any of the characters, I understood that was the point.
When this prequel/sequel was announced, I was hopeful. I thought if anyone could execute something so, well...brilliant, once, she could do it again.
So, I will begin with the positives.
Character--Mona Awad has this way of making a character climb their way off the page. You feel everything they feel. You're there with them through every beat in the story, no matter how slow or wild or seemingly inconsequential. Awad has no reservations for making you see the dirtiest, darkest parts of her characters, or the most mundane.
Voice (This will also be one the con side of this review as well)--Each character has their own way of speaking. It's maintained throughout the book, and though I know it took WORK, it comes across as effortless.
Tension--Even though the pacing was all over the place for me, Awad is a master at making you want to know what's coming. While I had to tell myself to pick the book up at times, the last 30% had me in a chokehold.
Some things that missed the mark for me:
Pacing--While I thought it was interesting we got the story from a different perspective, I honestly think the first part was unnecessary. It could have been another "We" section and done what each monologue set out to do in a much better way. It was repetitive and, often, dull. And then we get the ending--and just WOW. There's the Awad I'd been waiting for. But the lead up was a bit shaky.
Voice--Why did we need so many perspectives? What was the point? Even in retrospect, I don't know the answer to either.
Finally, my least favorite part, and I'm sure it's going to be an unpopular opinion, but Aerius--Long story short: "frowny face." Short story long: at first, I loved the idea of his perspective, but it would have been much stronger had it been more focused. We spend WAY too much time with him, and some of it seems a bit pointless. I understand he longed for his own autonomy and that he needed to go through his own arc points, but boy did it lag in some places.
Overall, this IS the promised "Bunny" prequel and sequel. All the open-ended questions at the end of "Bunny" are answered in the end. But I admired the ambiguity of "Bunny" and how it left me curious. In the end, and again, no one is more shocked than I am, but after all 496pages "We Love You, Bunny" made me want less.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This might be fiction, but it speaks of the dark and horrifying realities Chinese Americans faced in the midst and aftermath of COVID. It’s honest in the way fiction can unapologetically be, and from the first chapter, you’re so IN Cora’s story. You are her fears, her anxieties, her every over-processed emotion. This is a horror story, with horror elements, but you’ll laugh, you’ll gasp—most importantly, you’ll shut the book a different person than when you opened it.
dark
medium-paced
Yet another classic that makes you understand why it’s considered a classic. Extremely thought-provoking and not a word is wasted toward the story’s themes and purpose. There’s a simplicity in the language that makes it so approachable decades later, and if, like a major point of this novella drives forward, nothing about it is altered for the benefit of the “elite,” will continue to be approachable for decades to come.
Most impactful lines:
“Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices.”
“Much of this work was of a kind that the other animals were too ignorant to understand.”
Most impactful lines:
“Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices.”
“Much of this work was of a kind that the other animals were too ignorant to understand.”
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Marriage of convenience and second-chance wrapped up in one. Set in Amsterdam and the city acts as a minor character. Your standard romance, with the standard romance plot arc. A cute, quick read, with low-ish stakes. A great palette cleanser for heavier reads.