thatotherjlo's reviews
212 reviews

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I can’t quite tell if this is a love letter to the romance novel or a call for its reinvention; Florence spends long enough complaining about how she wants to write something other than romance, you’d expect some subversion of the genre, at least, but in the end we get a predictable textbook romance plot and resolution. There was such potential to do something more with the ghosts and Florence’s relationship with them, for instance, but instead they come across as basically a plot device to make Florence quirky and give her a tragic past. That was disappointing.

This dissonance over genre matches up with the difficulty I have understanding Florence’s characterization and arc; I can’t tell why she makes the choices she does, either internally or in her relationships with others. This felt especially jarring because of the book’s being written in first person. By the end, her characterization came across as inconsistent and I felt like I barely knew Benji, the love interest who’s a pretty constant presence throughout the book, which made me be uninvested in the relationship. (I am also just not a fan of books that make endless pop culture references, as happens with popular book titles in this one; it felt a little gimmicky.)

In general, the premise was promising and allowed for an unusual version of some of romance’s most common tropes (misunderstandings, forced proximity, etc). There is a lot of lost potential in what Poston does with that premise, but the predictability makes this an easy, relaxing read, and sometimes that is precisely what you need. If that’s the case, this might be a good choice for you!

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

A thoughtful reimagining of Wells' story, set against the background of the Caste War in late-nineteenth-century Yucatán -- such a brilliant choice of context by Moreno-Garcia, which allows her to overtly explore the colonialism that would have shaped Wells' worldview and through which so much of our "modern" science was developed. I really appreciated the way in which Moreno-Garcia uses this white, French Dr. Moreau's treatment of indigenous people and local fauna to profit off the land (the hybrids are created to be laborers in the fields, in the aftermath of the abolition of slavery in Mexico) to examine the intersection of race, colonialism, and capitalism in turn-of-the-century Latin America.

I am not generally a fan of sci-fi (admittedly, this one was fairly light on the "science" end), but I do enjoy Moreno-Garcia's world-building and ability to weave historical context into her storytelling. Her social and historical commentary was the most compelling element of the novel, and I found the extensive use of religious symbolism intriguing, as Dr. Moreau often took on the role of God, Carlota (the eponymous daughter of Dr. Moreau) the role of Eve, and Yaxaktun (the hacienda where they live) the role of the Garden of Eden. This was especially thought-provoking as the characters' relationships with religion evolved over the course of the novel.

I was underwhelmed by the character building and development, however. Most of the characters felt flat or underexamined, which was especially true for the hybrids. Given Moreno-Garcia's angle on this story, I would have expected (and loved) to see greater attention paid to their stories and experiences, which we only really see through Lupe. Meanwhile, Carlota's growth throughout the novel is inconsistent -- this may have to do with the six-year time jump, which I don't think was used to best effect, but I also suspect it has to do with Moreno-Garcia's objectives for her.

Carlota is presented as extraordinarily sweet and innocent throughout (more on that in a bit), likely to subvert stereotypes or expectations upon the reveal that she is a hybrid, but I think the attempt to make her seem so mild and normal (meant to highlight the "twist") just made her uninteresting.

Moreover, Carlota's naïveté around how the Lizaldes will treat her after the reveal -- her belief that she can deal or negotiate with them on behalf of the hybrids, even after they learn that she is one, too -- was grating in the context of her being a dark-skinned, mixed-race woman raised in a colorist, colonialist, and patriarchal region and household. Carlota has experienced prejudice and discrimination before, as seen in the novel, so it felt strange for her to so thoroughly fail to see how her status had changed in the eyes of the Lizaldes.

Despite these issues in characterization, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a relaxing read that showcases Moreno-Garcia's lush world-building skills.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

This is a great choice for somebody who reads for escapism; it's an easy read, with a predictable plot, the stakes are crystal clear before you even start reading (Alex is the First Son of the United States, Henry is the British prince), and the conflict is resolved in the most unrealistic and positive way

(their families accept them, their countries accept them, somehow there are no conflicts of interest as they all get to remain in their positions and pursue their goals)

. There are some good elements (Alex's grudge against Henry in the first part was funny, and Alex had some good character development throughout), but overall I was underwhelmed.

I should probably start by saying that, as a hispanic woman, I was concerned from the outset about a white, Anglo author writing a Latino main character, and McQuiston's treatment of race was as cringey as I had worried it might be. Alex's being multiracial and his Mexican identity felt like plot devices rather than like parts of his identity -- sure, there were references to Mexican foods and traditions, and some characters spoke Spanish, but with some superficial changes to those things Alex could have just as well been Black, or Asian, or French Canadian. I was similarly disappointed with the complete lack of attention given to how Alex's race would have played into the British royals' response to the relationship.

The superficiality of McQuiston's treatment of Alex's identity seemed to me part of the escapism of the novel; McQuiston very clearly dreamt up a female president with Latino children for the sake of a dramatic alternative to the United States in the wake of Trump's election in 2018. The whole novel gives off big The West Wing vibes (which the author owns up to, with references from the very first chapter), which is kind of ironic (or perfectly fitting!), since the show was clearly escapism in the wake of George W. Bush's election in 1999. But for somebody who actively chose to write a novel about politics, McQuiston seems to have very little idea of how politics actually works and thus handles all political plots in the most unrealistic ways. I was especially frustrated with their treatment of Rafael Luna's character and political career, which was simply absurd.

Red, White, & Royal Blue is a quick, mindless read for when you need a pick-me-up (brain candy!), but will disappoint if you're in the mood for anything with depth.

The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is such a lovely debut, with a protagonist clearly constructed with such love that, in the context of a romcom (complete with fake dating, secret relationships, and a love triangle!), you end up rooting for Zahra and her independence over the actual romantic relationships. While I enjoyed the romance, I feel like the real love stories here are friendships and, above all, the love between parents and their children.

Zahra's driving conflict is all about what she wants for herself, what her family wants for her, and what she wants for her family, which feels so fitting for a young adult romcom. As a child immigrant myself, who grew up in the diaspora with my own mother and siblings, this dynamic -- and especially Zahra's evolving relationship with her mother -- felt so true and written with such care.

I felt similarly about Zahra's relationship with Harun, which evolved so beautiful from contempt to friendship; the conflict and betrayal between them felt realistic and true to their character arcs.

By contrast, I really disliked Nayim's characterization and evolution; I could not understand his motivations, and Zahra's choices and actions when it came to him seemed irrational. I understand that that is part of the point (Zahra is a teenager, put in a difficult situation, and has struggled so long with what people expect or want from her, that it is difficult for her to go after or assert what she wants), but it was frustrating as a reader.

All in all, Taslim's The Love Match is a really enjoyable read, with a fleshed-out protagonist you cannot help but root for, a rich and well-developed world and community, and a satisfying resolution.

Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

The premise of this book is deceptively simple: in the wake of his brother's death, Sunny decides to make more rash decisions, starting with shaving off his beard and choosing to go to his school's prom instead of going to a fandom party with his friends. The entire story plays out over the course of that one night, on the anniversary of his brother's death. As the night develops, though, the story transforms into a young man's journey through grief and his attempts to make sense of his own faith and place in the world while in the diaspora.

I don't often read one-night or one-day stories, as I find they are difficult to pull of; there is just a very limited amount of character development that can realistically take place in such a short window. This novel suffers from that same issue, which it resolves by subordinating all other aspects of the narrative to Sunny's character study. If the transitions between activities throughout the night seem choppy or frenetic, or if Mindii seems to play the role of the manic pixie dream girl, it's because they are just there to carry Sunny from one thought, experience, or epiphany to the next.

It was these moments of introspection, where we saw the complexity of Sunny's thoughts and experiences through his journey in grief, that I found most enjoyable, especially when Dhillon brings in memories of the past to help create the arc of Sunny's character development. Sunny's memory of how Goldy (his brother) was obsessed with etymology, for instance, which frustrated Sunny at the time (it made prayer take forever!), becomes a source of connection on this night, when Sunny uses etymology to impress Mistii during one discussion. I found that moment a striking parallel to Sunny's reflection of his parents' own experiences with Goldy's death early in the novel, when Sunny recalls with frustration how Goldy "volunteered one time to serve food at the community kitchen, and Mamma and Papa won't stop bringing it up, like he cured world hunger or something and didn't relapse a couple weeks later." At the beginning of the novel, Sunny can't understand why his parents can find solace in a memory that he found infuriating, yet by the end of the novel he goes through the same experience himself.

I think Sunny's realization that his parents, too, are struggling with the complex journey through grieving Goldy (as compared to his claim earlier in the book that "maybe that's why we never talk about Goldy, because for Mama and Papa, it's over, he's just gone") is a beautiful close to the evening. I appreciated that the novel did not wrap up with a perfect resolution, which would have felt unearned and a bit of a deus ex machina moment for a one-night story; Sunny's relationship with Goldy's memory and death are still complicated, and he is still contemplating how Sikh beliefs on death do not seem to align with his own experiences with it. But Sunny no longer feels alone in those experiences, as he learns to lean on his parents and friends through them, and to not be in such a hurry to make sense of it all.

This novel is not subtle and you can predict fairly easily what the beats of the story will be (as a result, I really struggled with what to mark as a spoiler!). But is that not generally true of coming-of-age stories? This is a young adult book, after all, and it gladdens me to know that young adults now have this story in their shelves, to help them make sense of their journeys, too.

The Wilderwomen by Ruth Emmie Lang

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mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

One night, Nora Wilder disappeared, leaving behind her daughters Zadie and Finn. Five years later, Finn (who can see people's pasts) recruits her estranged older sister (who can glimpse the future) to go find their mother. Along the way, they learn more about their mother, each other, and themselves.

I had high hopes for this novel. The premise was promising and, from the first few chapters, could see the novel working both as a mystery and as a reflective, "it's about the journey" type narrative, focusing on the relationship between the sisters and their growth arc. Unfortunately, by the end, there was not really any pay-off on either front. The resolution of the mystery plot (what happened to Nora Wilder?) was predictable and underwhelming.

At the very least, I'd have liked a more complex explanation of what exactly it means for Nora's gift to be that she migrates, since the endless bird and migration motifs starting on page 2 had as good as already told us that was what had happened.

Similarly, the tensions that had developed within and among Zadie and Finn

(Zadie feels abandoned by both her mother and Finn, Finn feels that she is losing herself, Zadie's anger at her mother)

are unresolved by the end, and seem simply brushed aside for the sake of a clean resolution;

Zadie and Finn yell at each other about these issues one night (Finn yells at Zadie for not stopping their mother from leaving and not being unfair to their mother, Zadie accuses Finn of leaving her alone/moving on to another family), but then find Nora in the next chapter, apologize to each other, and that's that. Similarly, despite an entire novel of Zadie brooding in her anger and resentment of Nora's abandonment, the moment she finds Nora this all seems to vanish. While I understand that happiness would have won out at first, it felt unfair to Zadie's character development throughout the book (and to the reader) to not allow her to voice that anger with Nora.

The writing itself is generally enjoyable, and Lang deploys some imagery with skill (I particularly enjoyed the comparison between Zadie and Finn's relationship and coastal homes, "slowly succumbing to the ocean as tides ate away at the cliffs they were built on). However, at times the imagery seemed irrelevant or distracting, bordering on purple prose (what does it mean for "the pool [to] burst open like a ripe fruit" and how did opening with that image contribute to the scene?). Additionally, Lang's foreshadowing through the motif of

birds, nests, and migration (see, for starters, Finn's five pigeons that escaped in chapter one)

felt clumsy, like it is hitting the reader over the head. That issue contributed to the lack of payoff at the end, since it felt like there should have been a twist or a subversion of some kind after such heavy-handedness throughout.

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

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dark emotional reflective slow-paced