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thebooknerdscorner's reviews
1458 reviews
Four teens turn to a life of crime in order to escape the harsh eye of the corrupt government that deems to control every aspect of their lives.
Nimmo appears to the naked eye a teen like any other. But if you really knew him (which no one does), you'd know that Nimmo actually has dozens of secret identities, works with some of London's scariest crime bosses, and is tasked with a secret mission that might just get him and the three kids he's working with killed. Nimmo, FX, Manikin, and Scope have been tasked with a deceptively simple task: steal a box from the daughter of a dead scientist. They have been tasked to follow her every move to find out where this box is all without being caught by WatchWorld, the corrupt government always on the lookout. Nimmo knows there is more to their mission than what meets the eye, so he begs the other teens to proceed with caution and heed his every warning if they want to make it out of this heist alive. . .
This one was, quite frankly, better than I thought it was going to be. I'm not saying that it's anything special, but I felt like this one had a pretty solid chance to tank. I'm not always the hugest fan of sci-fi, so reading them is always a risk. This one was a pretty typical dystopia society much like in the classic "1984." It reminded me quite a bit of Eoin Colfer's "The Supernaturalist" with the gang of youngsters trying to steal something. The writing styles are also similar; Irish science fiction truly goes crazy!
I was intrigued early on about who exactly killed Brundle and why. I appreciated the who-dunnit aspect of this book immensely; it kept me motivated to keep turning the pages. Once I learned more details it became decently easy to sus out who was the guilty party, but other aspects of the book started to ramp up later on, so it was alright in my book.
The nanotechnology that Brundle was experimenting with is some surreally messed up technology. I won't go into any specific details due to the late reveal of the details surrounding this tech, but man, I would be horrified if a government could abuse its power. I must say, a world in which everyone is forced to have this technology inside of them would be absolutely terrifying and would make for a perfect sci-fi thriller.
I think my two biggest complaints about this book is the lack of depth to the characters and the overall lack of urgency in the pacing. Beside Nimmo and Scope, I didn't care for any of the characters at all. And Nica was alright, I guess. We didn't really learn much about any of the characters and Scope was the only one who had me liking her before the end of the story. She's into forensics, has asthma, and is one of the mob boss's personal pets. These things gave her some depth and her personality is likable, which is more than I can say about the other three.
I feel as though this book should have read more like a thriller, but the stakes never seemed all that high despite the constant danger the kids were in. Things do ramp up eventually in the last fourth of the book, but I feel as though this entire book should have been slightly more intense.
I did appreciate how the final heist scene was pulled off. It definitely wasn't what I was expecting to read when I first started this book, so that was a welcome surprise. The reunion scene with Nimmo was pretty great, but not as great as the final chapter in which Bunny and Punkin's purpose are finally revealed. These two idiots are just kinda floating around the entire story, but it's all worth it for the play that the final chapter reveals.
Overall, "Rat Runners" is a typical dystopian novel featuring a gang of teens trying to pull off an incomprehensible heist. The world wasn't super unique, the characters are pretty flat, and the writing was missing the suspense aspect I desired. I did enjoy the exploration of the nanotechnology and the murder mystery elements of this story though, so this book had some redeeming qualities that made it an enjoyable read.
Nimmo appears to the naked eye a teen like any other. But if you really knew him (which no one does), you'd know that Nimmo actually has dozens of secret identities, works with some of London's scariest crime bosses, and is tasked with a secret mission that might just get him and the three kids he's working with killed. Nimmo, FX, Manikin, and Scope have been tasked with a deceptively simple task: steal a box from the daughter of a dead scientist. They have been tasked to follow her every move to find out where this box is all without being caught by WatchWorld, the corrupt government always on the lookout. Nimmo knows there is more to their mission than what meets the eye, so he begs the other teens to proceed with caution and heed his every warning if they want to make it out of this heist alive. . .
This one was, quite frankly, better than I thought it was going to be. I'm not saying that it's anything special, but I felt like this one had a pretty solid chance to tank. I'm not always the hugest fan of sci-fi, so reading them is always a risk. This one was a pretty typical dystopia society much like in the classic "1984." It reminded me quite a bit of Eoin Colfer's "The Supernaturalist" with the gang of youngsters trying to steal something. The writing styles are also similar; Irish science fiction truly goes crazy!
I was intrigued early on about who exactly killed Brundle and why. I appreciated the who-dunnit aspect of this book immensely; it kept me motivated to keep turning the pages. Once I learned more details it became decently easy to sus out who was the guilty party, but other aspects of the book started to ramp up later on, so it was alright in my book.
The nanotechnology that Brundle was experimenting with is some surreally messed up technology. I won't go into any specific details due to the late reveal of the details surrounding this tech, but man, I would be horrified if a government could abuse its power. I must say, a world in which everyone is forced to have this technology inside of them would be absolutely terrifying and would make for a perfect sci-fi thriller.
I think my two biggest complaints about this book is the lack of depth to the characters and the overall lack of urgency in the pacing. Beside Nimmo and Scope, I didn't care for any of the characters at all. And Nica was alright, I guess. We didn't really learn much about any of the characters and Scope was the only one who had me liking her before the end of the story. She's into forensics, has asthma, and is one of the mob boss's personal pets. These things gave her some depth and her personality is likable, which is more than I can say about the other three.
I feel as though this book should have read more like a thriller, but the stakes never seemed all that high despite the constant danger the kids were in. Things do ramp up eventually in the last fourth of the book, but I feel as though this entire book should have been slightly more intense.
I did appreciate how the final heist scene was pulled off. It definitely wasn't what I was expecting to read when I first started this book, so that was a welcome surprise. The reunion scene with Nimmo was pretty great, but not as great as the final chapter in which Bunny and Punkin's purpose are finally revealed. These two idiots are just kinda floating around the entire story, but it's all worth it for the play that the final chapter reveals.
Overall, "Rat Runners" is a typical dystopian novel featuring a gang of teens trying to pull off an incomprehensible heist. The world wasn't super unique, the characters are pretty flat, and the writing was missing the suspense aspect I desired. I did enjoy the exploration of the nanotechnology and the murder mystery elements of this story though, so this book had some redeeming qualities that made it an enjoyable read.
A cute theatre romance in which a messy showmance love triangle ends with two boys discovering who they truly are deep down.
Wade Westmore is the definition of a theatre kid. He craves attention, is addicted to musicals, and pouts around when he isn't given the lead role during his final production as a high schooler. Not to be dramatic but losing a dream role to an ex-boyfriend is quite painful. Now, Wade is stuck with Reese rehearsal after rehearsal. Elijah Brady, on the other hand, has never been noticed before in his life. It's not like he isn't trying to make friends, but nobody is interested in a shy gay boy like him. Joining the stage crew of the musical seems like the perfect way to blend in while also branching out. When the two run into each other (literally), Wade and Elijah strike up a deal. Elijah wants to learn how to be more confident while Wade wants to prove to Reese that he cares for other people more than he cares about himself. As Wade works to help out the new and improved "Brady," the two boys may learn more about themselves than they bargained for.
As a lover of all things theatre and musicals, I was so excited to read this one. I'm not super familiar with "My Fair Lady," but that never once lessened my joy of reading this story. This has got to be the most theatre-filled theatre romance I've ever read, so it is no surprise that I ended up loving this book, despite all of the teen drama that ensues.
Wade and Elijah's relationship starts out pretty akin to Galinda and Elphaba's in the musical "Wicked." Wade is a popular kid who wants to win the attention of Reese (who I suppose is the Fiyero in this situation). Elijah, just wants to learn how to fit in. Wade takes on Elijah as a pity project in order to gain Reese's attention, but Reese ends up catching the hots for Elijah. Let's just say, there are a ton of complex teen emotions flying high in this book. I think this is also the first love triangle romance I've read where all three of them have feelings for each other.
This book had me feeling so nostalgic for my time I spend doing theatre productions in college. The way that it talks about being on stage, seeing the cast list posted, and all of the emotions that happen on closing night really hit me in the feels. I can say with certainty that I teared up by the end of this book just on the vibe of closing night alone. Following all the different theatre kids, both the actors and the techies, was truly a joy as a person who has been on both sides of the stage.
I relate a ton to Elijah as a person. He is anxious about pretty much everything, from having conversations, to ordering at restaurants, to learning to drive. I am an introvert who pretty much shuts down in all social settings, so I really relate to Elijah on a personal level. Just remember, everyone ISN'T always watching.
The romance in this book wasn't overly suffocating. This book is more a journey of two teens learning who they really want to be in this world. Yes, Wade wants to woo his ex and Elijah is looking to experience stereotypical high school things, but the romance elements of this book are rather subtle compared to many romances. Wade and Elijah's relationship is quite the bromance, and I loved seeing the two of them pulling each other out of their comfort zones in various ways.
The camping scenes in this book also brought back many nostalgic memories of camping with my best friends. There is a part of me that hates camping, but I always think back on it so fondly. I don't think you could convince me to go camping in Minnesota during March. As a Minnesota girl, that sounds like torture, even if one has a heater and a cabin. The scenes that go down between Wade and Elijah while they are camping are so wholesome, and I love the wonder filled side of Wade we get to see while the boys are out in the middle of the woods.
This book also very briefly brings up some societal issues. One of the characters is transgender and talks about her experiences. Another thing that this book examines in great detail is the toxicity of popularity. There is a huge difference between being confident and being popular. There is also a huge difference between the good type of popular and the bad type of popular (which Elijah definitely learns about firsthand). Prom is another huge part of this book, and unfortunately, this book doesn't rain on its parade as much as I would have liked. Luckily, the school seems more queer normative than many places, which was nice to see. It did make me sad that Elijah didn't fight harder to avoid all the prom "rites of passages" that society seems to press onto teenagers (such as getting a hotel room).
Overall, I loved reading every part of "My Fair Brady." This book was truly a deep dive into nostalgia for me. From the theatre elements to the camping trip to the Galinda and Elphaba coded nature of Wade and Elijah's relationship, it all brought back so many happy memories for me. I love how much of this book is directly centered around theatre; it is truly a love letter to theatre kids new and old. I would definitely recommend.
Wade Westmore is the definition of a theatre kid. He craves attention, is addicted to musicals, and pouts around when he isn't given the lead role during his final production as a high schooler. Not to be dramatic but losing a dream role to an ex-boyfriend is quite painful. Now, Wade is stuck with Reese rehearsal after rehearsal. Elijah Brady, on the other hand, has never been noticed before in his life. It's not like he isn't trying to make friends, but nobody is interested in a shy gay boy like him. Joining the stage crew of the musical seems like the perfect way to blend in while also branching out. When the two run into each other (literally), Wade and Elijah strike up a deal. Elijah wants to learn how to be more confident while Wade wants to prove to Reese that he cares for other people more than he cares about himself. As Wade works to help out the new and improved "Brady," the two boys may learn more about themselves than they bargained for.
As a lover of all things theatre and musicals, I was so excited to read this one. I'm not super familiar with "My Fair Lady," but that never once lessened my joy of reading this story. This has got to be the most theatre-filled theatre romance I've ever read, so it is no surprise that I ended up loving this book, despite all of the teen drama that ensues.
Wade and Elijah's relationship starts out pretty akin to Galinda and Elphaba's in the musical "Wicked." Wade is a popular kid who wants to win the attention of Reese (who I suppose is the Fiyero in this situation). Elijah, just wants to learn how to fit in. Wade takes on Elijah as a pity project in order to gain Reese's attention, but Reese ends up catching the hots for Elijah. Let's just say, there are a ton of complex teen emotions flying high in this book. I think this is also the first love triangle romance I've read where all three of them have feelings for each other.
This book had me feeling so nostalgic for my time I spend doing theatre productions in college. The way that it talks about being on stage, seeing the cast list posted, and all of the emotions that happen on closing night really hit me in the feels. I can say with certainty that I teared up by the end of this book just on the vibe of closing night alone. Following all the different theatre kids, both the actors and the techies, was truly a joy as a person who has been on both sides of the stage.
I relate a ton to Elijah as a person. He is anxious about pretty much everything, from having conversations, to ordering at restaurants, to learning to drive. I am an introvert who pretty much shuts down in all social settings, so I really relate to Elijah on a personal level. Just remember, everyone ISN'T always watching.
The romance in this book wasn't overly suffocating. This book is more a journey of two teens learning who they really want to be in this world. Yes, Wade wants to woo his ex and Elijah is looking to experience stereotypical high school things, but the romance elements of this book are rather subtle compared to many romances. Wade and Elijah's relationship is quite the bromance, and I loved seeing the two of them pulling each other out of their comfort zones in various ways.
The camping scenes in this book also brought back many nostalgic memories of camping with my best friends. There is a part of me that hates camping, but I always think back on it so fondly. I don't think you could convince me to go camping in Minnesota during March. As a Minnesota girl, that sounds like torture, even if one has a heater and a cabin. The scenes that go down between Wade and Elijah while they are camping are so wholesome, and I love the wonder filled side of Wade we get to see while the boys are out in the middle of the woods.
This book also very briefly brings up some societal issues. One of the characters is transgender and talks about her experiences. Another thing that this book examines in great detail is the toxicity of popularity. There is a huge difference between being confident and being popular. There is also a huge difference between the good type of popular and the bad type of popular (which Elijah definitely learns about firsthand). Prom is another huge part of this book, and unfortunately, this book doesn't rain on its parade as much as I would have liked. Luckily, the school seems more queer normative than many places, which was nice to see. It did make me sad that Elijah didn't fight harder to avoid all the prom "rites of passages" that society seems to press onto teenagers (such as getting a hotel room).
Overall, I loved reading every part of "My Fair Brady." This book was truly a deep dive into nostalgia for me. From the theatre elements to the camping trip to the Galinda and Elphaba coded nature of Wade and Elijah's relationship, it all brought back so many happy memories for me. I love how much of this book is directly centered around theatre; it is truly a love letter to theatre kids new and old. I would definitely recommend.
A cute, queer paranormal graphic novel featuring a ghost who falls in love with the one person that can see him.
Blue is a ghost and he is having a hard time moving on. He's in love with his best friend, Hamal, who happens to still be alive. When strange things start happening around town, Blue starts to worry for Hamal's safety. Blue will do anything to keep Hamal safe. . . even if it means losing him forever.
This one was sweet. Unfortunately, it lacks much more depth than that. Blue and Hamal's connection is cute and the fact that they work in a flower shop is quite wholesome. The conversations between Blue and Hamal are pretty funny, which is definitely a plus. The little found family of ghosts that Hamal has surrounding him is also pretty neat. This is about the extent of the entire graphic novel, though.
Overall, "Taproot" is a queer graphic novel about the balance between life and depth. It is short and sweet, but lacks depth in pretty much every aspect. The art is cute, and the characters are likable. This is about the extent of the novel though. It's pretty cozy, but mostly forgettable.
Blue is a ghost and he is having a hard time moving on. He's in love with his best friend, Hamal, who happens to still be alive. When strange things start happening around town, Blue starts to worry for Hamal's safety. Blue will do anything to keep Hamal safe. . . even if it means losing him forever.
This one was sweet. Unfortunately, it lacks much more depth than that. Blue and Hamal's connection is cute and the fact that they work in a flower shop is quite wholesome. The conversations between Blue and Hamal are pretty funny, which is definitely a plus. The little found family of ghosts that Hamal has surrounding him is also pretty neat. This is about the extent of the entire graphic novel, though.
Overall, "Taproot" is a queer graphic novel about the balance between life and depth. It is short and sweet, but lacks depth in pretty much every aspect. The art is cute, and the characters are likable. This is about the extent of the novel though. It's pretty cozy, but mostly forgettable.
Fan favorites Ashlie and Hunter return in the second book in the Fort Bender series in which they have to decide whether they want to be more than just friends or not.
Ashlie Willis feels like the world's worst failure. She quit teaching after a mental breakdown and none of her relationships seem to amount to anything meaningful. Trying to please all of the people in her life has her burning the candle at both ends, but at least she can be herself around her best friend, Hunter. He may be a skirt-chaser, but he is a loyal bestie. Hunter Jackson doesn't get too attached to anything in his life. After his mom left his family, Hunter secretly fears that he will be abandoned, so he runs away from everything to avoid stop anyone from ever leaving him again. Ashlie and Hunter have promised that they'll never do anything to jeopardize their friendship, but their feelings towards one another start to get complicated when they return back to Fort Bender, a town that is laden with memories of that one night they don't speak of. When the line between romance and friendship blur, Ashlie and Hunter must reevaluate what they really desire in life.
In the first book in this series, Hunter and Ashlie were my favorite characters. When I was told that the second book featured their romance, I was very excited for more of their content. One of my favorite parts about them is their witty banter, which this book is filled of. Obviously, these two have their own baggage, but I wasn't expecting it to be as heavy as it is. This romance is stunning because it doesn't shy away from all the self-doubts that flood anxiety ridden people and showcases that we all have our personal traumas that cause us to treat people less than fair.
I relate to Ashlie so hard, and it's not just because we share the same name. Ashlie is an anxious, people pleaser who heavily feels the burden of everyone in her life's expectations. She often feels like she is a failure in every aspect, and she feels unworthy of being loved. I'm definitely not in as bad of a rut as she is, but I can definitely relate to all the stress that she carries around and the belief that she must please everyone in order to be a success. I've definitely had a panic attack a time or two due to the unknowns that the future holds and often feel that my boyfriend deserves better than the loser that is me. Much like Hunter, he has to constantly remind me that I am good enough and that I am loved unconditionally.
Hunter is confident in his ways but constantly haunted by the traumas of his past. This brings another level of pain to their relationship that they both have to deal with and work through. My mom may not have abandoned my family, but I have my own fair share of childhood traumas that affect my romantic relationship, too. Both Ashlie and Hunter have such relatable trials and tribulations that it was hard for my heart not to go out to these two. I was rooting for these two to figure out their garbage so that they could be happy together.
When I say that I highlighted the heck out of this book, I'm not saying that lightly. There are dozens of passages in this book that I highlighted due to how much it felt like the thought was coming out of my own head. This book made me feel seen in an eerily creepy way, which also made reading it quite cathartic in a way. Additionally, there are a ton of quotes in this book are hilarious, which is also a plus.
Ashlie and Hunter also have really strong chemistry in this book. They have been friends for over five years, so they have plenty of inside jokes and know each other quite well. It made shipping them together a natural choice, despite the fact that the seem polar opposite at first sight. Due to this, their physical chemistry didn't seem to come out of nowhere like it usually does for me. This book had some scenes that are way more sensual than I'm used to, but they didn't make me overly uncomfortable. I want to make it very clear that this book is definitely OPEN DOOR, if you catch my drift. I was certainly blushy while reading the last fourth of this book. I don't usually love steamy books this much, so I wanted to make this very clear.
Kayla and Chase, the characters from "Some Kind of Forever," are also super important in this story. They are planning their wedding, and it is awesome to see how happy they are together even after their book ends. We get a bit of a story after the story, which I love. Despite it being such a happy time in their lives, Kayla is super worried about taking their relationship to the next level. Her and Chase have been dating for over five years, but that doesn't ease her anxiety of becoming a wife. I am definitely a ways from marrying anyone, but I know that the months leading up to my wedding are going to be some of the most stressful moments of my life. Remember people, COMMUNICTION fixes most issues (or at least remedies them and makes them manageable *wink wink, nudge nudge*). My heart really goes out to Kayla, and I'm glad that I could relate more to her in this book than I did in the first one.
We go on quite the journey with this friend group, and I'm excited to see who the third book in the series follows. My bet would be on Trevor, who I somehow haven't mentioned yet. He is the competing love interest in this book who makes up the third piece of the love triangle that is included. Seeing him get redemption would be nice, especially if he ends up with Ashlie's sister, Willis. Otherwise, seeing Artemis' love story play out could also be neat.
Overall, "Sunshine With You" is a romance that dives into all the complicated parts of romantic relationships, especially when one doesn't feel worthy of being loved. Yes, the dialogue is super witty, and the romance can be swoonworthy, but the depth of the characters is truly what makes the story so amazing. I relate so much to Ashlie, especially her people pleasing ways and anxiety ridden mind. I can't wait to see what else Fort Bender has to offer me; I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for the next novel in this series!
Ashlie Willis feels like the world's worst failure. She quit teaching after a mental breakdown and none of her relationships seem to amount to anything meaningful. Trying to please all of the people in her life has her burning the candle at both ends, but at least she can be herself around her best friend, Hunter. He may be a skirt-chaser, but he is a loyal bestie. Hunter Jackson doesn't get too attached to anything in his life. After his mom left his family, Hunter secretly fears that he will be abandoned, so he runs away from everything to avoid stop anyone from ever leaving him again. Ashlie and Hunter have promised that they'll never do anything to jeopardize their friendship, but their feelings towards one another start to get complicated when they return back to Fort Bender, a town that is laden with memories of that one night they don't speak of. When the line between romance and friendship blur, Ashlie and Hunter must reevaluate what they really desire in life.
In the first book in this series, Hunter and Ashlie were my favorite characters. When I was told that the second book featured their romance, I was very excited for more of their content. One of my favorite parts about them is their witty banter, which this book is filled of. Obviously, these two have their own baggage, but I wasn't expecting it to be as heavy as it is. This romance is stunning because it doesn't shy away from all the self-doubts that flood anxiety ridden people and showcases that we all have our personal traumas that cause us to treat people less than fair.
I relate to Ashlie so hard, and it's not just because we share the same name. Ashlie is an anxious, people pleaser who heavily feels the burden of everyone in her life's expectations. She often feels like she is a failure in every aspect, and she feels unworthy of being loved. I'm definitely not in as bad of a rut as she is, but I can definitely relate to all the stress that she carries around and the belief that she must please everyone in order to be a success. I've definitely had a panic attack a time or two due to the unknowns that the future holds and often feel that my boyfriend deserves better than the loser that is me. Much like Hunter, he has to constantly remind me that I am good enough and that I am loved unconditionally.
Hunter is confident in his ways but constantly haunted by the traumas of his past. This brings another level of pain to their relationship that they both have to deal with and work through. My mom may not have abandoned my family, but I have my own fair share of childhood traumas that affect my romantic relationship, too. Both Ashlie and Hunter have such relatable trials and tribulations that it was hard for my heart not to go out to these two. I was rooting for these two to figure out their garbage so that they could be happy together.
When I say that I highlighted the heck out of this book, I'm not saying that lightly. There are dozens of passages in this book that I highlighted due to how much it felt like the thought was coming out of my own head. This book made me feel seen in an eerily creepy way, which also made reading it quite cathartic in a way. Additionally, there are a ton of quotes in this book are hilarious, which is also a plus.
Ashlie and Hunter also have really strong chemistry in this book. They have been friends for over five years, so they have plenty of inside jokes and know each other quite well. It made shipping them together a natural choice, despite the fact that the seem polar opposite at first sight. Due to this, their physical chemistry didn't seem to come out of nowhere like it usually does for me. This book had some scenes that are way more sensual than I'm used to, but they didn't make me overly uncomfortable. I want to make it very clear that this book is definitely OPEN DOOR, if you catch my drift. I was certainly blushy while reading the last fourth of this book. I don't usually love steamy books this much, so I wanted to make this very clear.
Kayla and Chase, the characters from "Some Kind of Forever," are also super important in this story. They are planning their wedding, and it is awesome to see how happy they are together even after their book ends. We get a bit of a story after the story, which I love. Despite it being such a happy time in their lives, Kayla is super worried about taking their relationship to the next level. Her and Chase have been dating for over five years, but that doesn't ease her anxiety of becoming a wife. I am definitely a ways from marrying anyone, but I know that the months leading up to my wedding are going to be some of the most stressful moments of my life. Remember people, COMMUNICTION fixes most issues (or at least remedies them and makes them manageable *wink wink, nudge nudge*). My heart really goes out to Kayla, and I'm glad that I could relate more to her in this book than I did in the first one.
We go on quite the journey with this friend group, and I'm excited to see who the third book in the series follows. My bet would be on Trevor, who I somehow haven't mentioned yet. He is the competing love interest in this book who makes up the third piece of the love triangle that is included. Seeing him get redemption would be nice, especially if he ends up with Ashlie's sister, Willis. Otherwise, seeing Artemis' love story play out could also be neat.
Overall, "Sunshine With You" is a romance that dives into all the complicated parts of romantic relationships, especially when one doesn't feel worthy of being loved. Yes, the dialogue is super witty, and the romance can be swoonworthy, but the depth of the characters is truly what makes the story so amazing. I relate so much to Ashlie, especially her people pleasing ways and anxiety ridden mind. I can't wait to see what else Fort Bender has to offer me; I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for the next novel in this series!
A regency romance in which three young people are trying to find true happiness despite the pressures that society presses upon them to act differently.
George has a lot on their plate. After inheriting their family's failing estate, they are thrust into the spotlight like they've never been before. Keeping the fact that they dress in men's clothes despite their assigned gender a secret is hard enough, but keeping their romantic feelings from their best friend Eleanor is near impossible. Eleanor feels the pressures of being a proper woman in high class society, but men have never interested her. Who wants to marry when she can spend her free time with her best friend George and her cousin Charlotte? George, Eleanor, and Charlotte are all forced to face their feelings and defy the expectations of the society that they live in if they truly want to find their happily ever after.
I've heard good things about this graphic novel, so I was happy to see that it panned out well for me. The characters are fully fleshed, the art style is both refined and hilarious, and the exploration of race, class, and sexuality during the 1800s are immaculate.
I'm gonna say that my favorite thing about this one is the art. The facial expressions are really fun and constantly had me laughing aloud. Looking at all the resplendent clothing of the era was also quite a joy. I really dig the skirt, suit jacket, and top hat look that George has going on throughout this book. The colors are also so vibrant in this one, which makes it really pleasant to look at.
The way that this book helpfully points out that members of the LGBTQIA+ community have always existed is awesome. Regency romances featuring characters that are transgender is rapidly starting to become my favorite type of historical fiction, and I am honored to add this one to the list of books I love.
Not only does it deep dive into gender and sexuality, it also takes a look at other biases that are present throughout society. Looking down on people who are of different ethnicities, race, or financial standing still happens to this day, so I'm glad that authors are using their platforms to examine these topics through a historical lens. Eleanor tries her best, but she definitely looks down at her servants. On top of that, she also doesn't understand how hard it can be for her cousin Charlotte, who is black, to do the exact same activities that she does. The growth that Eleanor goes through in this book is an arc that many people themselves need to experience, so hopefully books like this make readers more empathetic.
The romantic buildup in this graphic novel is done so well. It is quite obvious from the start that George loves Eleanor, and Eleanor gets so jealous when anyone wants to spend time with George. Seeing them both fall harder and harder for one another until their hilarious confession is priceless, and I'm glad that the author took a bit of a humorous approach when it comes to George and Eleanor's relationship.
Overall, I found "I Shall Not Fall in Love" to be a ridiculously cute graphic novel that had me laughing aloud. It has great art, characters, and messages. The way that this story examines gender norms, sexuality, classism, and racism is outstanding. This book is similar in ways to "The Prince and the Dressmaker" as well as "The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich." If you are a fan of one of these, I'm sure you'll be a fan of all three. I'd definitely recommend if you like cozy regency romances with diverse characters and graphic novels with incredible art!
George has a lot on their plate. After inheriting their family's failing estate, they are thrust into the spotlight like they've never been before. Keeping the fact that they dress in men's clothes despite their assigned gender a secret is hard enough, but keeping their romantic feelings from their best friend Eleanor is near impossible. Eleanor feels the pressures of being a proper woman in high class society, but men have never interested her. Who wants to marry when she can spend her free time with her best friend George and her cousin Charlotte? George, Eleanor, and Charlotte are all forced to face their feelings and defy the expectations of the society that they live in if they truly want to find their happily ever after.
I've heard good things about this graphic novel, so I was happy to see that it panned out well for me. The characters are fully fleshed, the art style is both refined and hilarious, and the exploration of race, class, and sexuality during the 1800s are immaculate.
I'm gonna say that my favorite thing about this one is the art. The facial expressions are really fun and constantly had me laughing aloud. Looking at all the resplendent clothing of the era was also quite a joy. I really dig the skirt, suit jacket, and top hat look that George has going on throughout this book. The colors are also so vibrant in this one, which makes it really pleasant to look at.
The way that this book helpfully points out that members of the LGBTQIA+ community have always existed is awesome. Regency romances featuring characters that are transgender is rapidly starting to become my favorite type of historical fiction, and I am honored to add this one to the list of books I love.
Not only does it deep dive into gender and sexuality, it also takes a look at other biases that are present throughout society. Looking down on people who are of different ethnicities, race, or financial standing still happens to this day, so I'm glad that authors are using their platforms to examine these topics through a historical lens. Eleanor tries her best, but she definitely looks down at her servants. On top of that, she also doesn't understand how hard it can be for her cousin Charlotte, who is black, to do the exact same activities that she does. The growth that Eleanor goes through in this book is an arc that many people themselves need to experience, so hopefully books like this make readers more empathetic.
The romantic buildup in this graphic novel is done so well. It is quite obvious from the start that George loves Eleanor, and Eleanor gets so jealous when anyone wants to spend time with George. Seeing them both fall harder and harder for one another until their hilarious confession is priceless, and I'm glad that the author took a bit of a humorous approach when it comes to George and Eleanor's relationship.
Overall, I found "I Shall Not Fall in Love" to be a ridiculously cute graphic novel that had me laughing aloud. It has great art, characters, and messages. The way that this story examines gender norms, sexuality, classism, and racism is outstanding. This book is similar in ways to "The Prince and the Dressmaker" as well as "The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich." If you are a fan of one of these, I'm sure you'll be a fan of all three. I'd definitely recommend if you like cozy regency romances with diverse characters and graphic novels with incredible art!
A dark fantasy steeped in Jamaican folklore that explores healing from one's trauma and finding a place to call home on their own terms.
Victoria is a Wildblood. From the early age of six, a notorious tour company has been taking advantage of her and forcing her to bring foreigners into the jungle that she so desperately wants to call her own. Forced to use her magic to protect the tourists from the jungle's monsters, Victoria is ready to take things into her own hands. Unfortunately, her corrupt and abusive boss denies her the promotion that she so desperately needs in the favor of her backstabbing ex, Dean. Victoria is given one final chance to prove herself as an adept tour guide if she can get the latest client, Thorn, to sing Dean's praises. To her surprise, she finds that Thorn is a charming young man who treats her with more respect than anyone she's met before. As her feelings deepen, Victoria is forced to contemplate what she really wants in this life.
This book is quite an intense read. Victoria, Dean, Thorn, and the rest of the troop are trekking through a treacherous jungle filled with creatures from Jamaican folklore that could have walked straight out of Hell. I've read a few books with Jamaican monsters in them, and I must say, they are just as horrifying as I remember them. There are soul-eating owls with teeth, giant shadow creatures with the ability to kill with a single touch, and of course, the River Mumma, who loves to lure stragglers into her river to their deaths. Seeing all the creatures was interesting and I appreciate learning more about Jamaican folklore.
Victoria has been mistreated in pretty much every way possible during her time as a tour guide. Her boss is a corrupt leader who treats everyone like less than garbage, but Victoria has been hit extra hard due to her being a beautiful female. Abused mentally, sexually, physically, and financially, Victoria is running away from so much pain in this book. And this is without all the racially charge violence and abuse that she faces. These things certainly add to the intense vibes that this book has, but the author does a great job of showcasing how unhealthy and slow-going growth can be after years and years of continuous trauma.
I love how in tune with nature Victoria is. She is fiercely loyal to the few boys in her troop that she cares about, but her true allegiance lies with the River Mumma and the jungle. I think it's cool that she is still semi-religious despite how devoted to nature she is. The fact that she is willing to hold poisonous butterflies and spiders without batting an eye shows how comfortable she is with the fauna. Nature lovers as protags are always neat in my opinion. As a side note, I really appreciate how strong Victoria is, even though she deals with panic attacks and stuttering.
The romance element in this book wasn't the strongest for me, but I didn't hate Thorn either. I feel their relationship came on a bit fast, but I also get it. No one has ever treated Victoria with as much respect as Thorn has, so it makes sense she wanted to trust him so easily. The one steamy scene between them was questionable at best, but I also get wanting to use sex to forget about the heavy things that are weighing on one's mind. Luckily, Thorn is a considerate gentleman despite his skirt-chasing nature, and he treated Victoria with the respect she deserves.
I must admit, I didn't understand the Wildblood's magic system at all. Did it just give them extreme endurance, strength, stamina, etc? I dunno. I get that Victoria could use blood as a weapon, such as forming knives or draining her enemies of blood. I know that Wildbloods go into rages if they overuse their abilities. Is it similar to barbarians raging in D&D? I'm really not sure and I wish this all would have been a little clearer to me. Also, there is little discussion of where these powers come from or why Victoria's are the strongest, but that didn't bother me as much as the confusion of what the powers do did.
I'm going to quickly go over some of the reasons I wasn't completely attached to this narrative. I didn't care about most of the side characters, which made it hard to really care about their safety. Literally ninety-eight percent of the characters die in this one, and I didn't care one bit. There were also a few too many men vying for Victoria's attention for my liking; I didn't really see what Sampson had to offer to the plot. And Victoria and Dean's entire arc is icky, and rather confusing for much of this book. The pacing is a bit slow, and the writing style wasn't my favorite, but these didn't make the book painful, so I accept them.
Overall, "Wildblood" is a moody dark fantasy buried root deep in Jamaican folklore. The elements of choosing your own fate and overcoming one's traumas are really strong; this story is such a creative way to showcase these messages. Learning more about Jamaican mythical creatures was one of my favorite parts of this book (despite how creepy they all seem to be). This book has very few happy moments featured, but that doesn't mean that it's not a compelling read that is worth exploring. It definitely could have hooked me more, but I didn't dislike my time with this one. I would recommend this one for lovers of dark fantasy who are looking for more diverse fantasy worlds and discussions of real-life traumas many people face.
Victoria is a Wildblood. From the early age of six, a notorious tour company has been taking advantage of her and forcing her to bring foreigners into the jungle that she so desperately wants to call her own. Forced to use her magic to protect the tourists from the jungle's monsters, Victoria is ready to take things into her own hands. Unfortunately, her corrupt and abusive boss denies her the promotion that she so desperately needs in the favor of her backstabbing ex, Dean. Victoria is given one final chance to prove herself as an adept tour guide if she can get the latest client, Thorn, to sing Dean's praises. To her surprise, she finds that Thorn is a charming young man who treats her with more respect than anyone she's met before. As her feelings deepen, Victoria is forced to contemplate what she really wants in this life.
This book is quite an intense read. Victoria, Dean, Thorn, and the rest of the troop are trekking through a treacherous jungle filled with creatures from Jamaican folklore that could have walked straight out of Hell. I've read a few books with Jamaican monsters in them, and I must say, they are just as horrifying as I remember them. There are soul-eating owls with teeth, giant shadow creatures with the ability to kill with a single touch, and of course, the River Mumma, who loves to lure stragglers into her river to their deaths. Seeing all the creatures was interesting and I appreciate learning more about Jamaican folklore.
Victoria has been mistreated in pretty much every way possible during her time as a tour guide. Her boss is a corrupt leader who treats everyone like less than garbage, but Victoria has been hit extra hard due to her being a beautiful female. Abused mentally, sexually, physically, and financially, Victoria is running away from so much pain in this book. And this is without all the racially charge violence and abuse that she faces. These things certainly add to the intense vibes that this book has, but the author does a great job of showcasing how unhealthy and slow-going growth can be after years and years of continuous trauma.
I love how in tune with nature Victoria is. She is fiercely loyal to the few boys in her troop that she cares about, but her true allegiance lies with the River Mumma and the jungle. I think it's cool that she is still semi-religious despite how devoted to nature she is. The fact that she is willing to hold poisonous butterflies and spiders without batting an eye shows how comfortable she is with the fauna. Nature lovers as protags are always neat in my opinion. As a side note, I really appreciate how strong Victoria is, even though she deals with panic attacks and stuttering.
The romance element in this book wasn't the strongest for me, but I didn't hate Thorn either. I feel their relationship came on a bit fast, but I also get it. No one has ever treated Victoria with as much respect as Thorn has, so it makes sense she wanted to trust him so easily. The one steamy scene between them was questionable at best, but I also get wanting to use sex to forget about the heavy things that are weighing on one's mind. Luckily, Thorn is a considerate gentleman despite his skirt-chasing nature, and he treated Victoria with the respect she deserves.
I must admit, I didn't understand the Wildblood's magic system at all. Did it just give them extreme endurance, strength, stamina, etc? I dunno. I get that Victoria could use blood as a weapon, such as forming knives or draining her enemies of blood. I know that Wildbloods go into rages if they overuse their abilities. Is it similar to barbarians raging in D&D? I'm really not sure and I wish this all would have been a little clearer to me. Also, there is little discussion of where these powers come from or why Victoria's are the strongest, but that didn't bother me as much as the confusion of what the powers do did.
I'm going to quickly go over some of the reasons I wasn't completely attached to this narrative. I didn't care about most of the side characters, which made it hard to really care about their safety. Literally ninety-eight percent of the characters die in this one, and I didn't care one bit. There were also a few too many men vying for Victoria's attention for my liking; I didn't really see what Sampson had to offer to the plot. And Victoria and Dean's entire arc is icky, and rather confusing for much of this book. The pacing is a bit slow, and the writing style wasn't my favorite, but these didn't make the book painful, so I accept them.
Overall, "Wildblood" is a moody dark fantasy buried root deep in Jamaican folklore. The elements of choosing your own fate and overcoming one's traumas are really strong; this story is such a creative way to showcase these messages. Learning more about Jamaican mythical creatures was one of my favorite parts of this book (despite how creepy they all seem to be). This book has very few happy moments featured, but that doesn't mean that it's not a compelling read that is worth exploring. It definitely could have hooked me more, but I didn't dislike my time with this one. I would recommend this one for lovers of dark fantasy who are looking for more diverse fantasy worlds and discussions of real-life traumas many people face.
Falling in love is sweet especially if you are doing it on the set of a baking show. . . or is it?
Shireen Malik's summer has been pretty awful. Not only did she breakup with her girlfriend, Chris, her best friend, Fatima, is also spending the summer with her family in Bangladesh. Not even her favorite reality show can cheer her up. In the midst of her sadness, Shireen receives an email saying that she has been selected to compete on a new televised baking show for teens. After arriving on set, things get complicated when she learns Chris is a fellow competitor. With her ex hovering over her shoulder, the pressure increases for Shireen. Not only does she have to deal with Chris, but she also starts catching feelings for Niamh, the cute redhead who catches Shireen's attention almost immediately. As the competition ramps up, so do Shireen's feelings for both Chris and Niamh. Who knew baking could be so complicated?
It saddens me greatly to admit that I didn't like this one. I was really anticipating reading this book. The cover is just so cute, and I figured a book centered around a baking show would be so wholesome and cute. Unfortunately, that was not the case. This book is full of petty arguments, constant bickering, and a love triangle that I found to be pure cringe. Reading a romance with a love triangle element and not liking any of the three makes for a very uncomfortable experience, which was the case I had in this book. If this book wouldn't have been so petty in all of its conflicts, there is a chance that I could have gotten more into the story, but the lack of liking the characters is what really made this one a miss for me.
Despite all the things I despised about this book, there is also much that I can admire. It is not often that one sees a Bangladeshi girl who is also fat and a lesbian who is trying to live her life unapologetically as herself in literature. This is really refreshing, and definitely one of my favorite parts about this book. I'm not saying that Shireen doesn't face any challenges (she is constantly made fun of for her race and body type as well as commonly referred to as Indian), but she thrives as herself despite them.
Shireen is also a very anxious individual who experiences extreme panic attacks. This is something that resonates strongly with me as a person, and I can really empathize with her. Unfortunately, I still didn't find myself forming a strong connection with her.
Overall, "The Dos and Donuts of Love" was a very disappointing read. I was really looking forward to reading this one and it ended up not even coming close to my standards. I appreciate the marginalized MC, her enthusiastic nature, and the important themes, but this wasn't enough to have me liking this book. I'm saddened that this one didn't hit for me, but I will definitely check out more of Jaigirdar's work in the future. I'm optimistic that I could like her other books due to her writing style and witty nature. It stinks that this one was a miss, but hopefully the next one will be a hit!
Shireen Malik's summer has been pretty awful. Not only did she breakup with her girlfriend, Chris, her best friend, Fatima, is also spending the summer with her family in Bangladesh. Not even her favorite reality show can cheer her up. In the midst of her sadness, Shireen receives an email saying that she has been selected to compete on a new televised baking show for teens. After arriving on set, things get complicated when she learns Chris is a fellow competitor. With her ex hovering over her shoulder, the pressure increases for Shireen. Not only does she have to deal with Chris, but she also starts catching feelings for Niamh, the cute redhead who catches Shireen's attention almost immediately. As the competition ramps up, so do Shireen's feelings for both Chris and Niamh. Who knew baking could be so complicated?
It saddens me greatly to admit that I didn't like this one. I was really anticipating reading this book. The cover is just so cute, and I figured a book centered around a baking show would be so wholesome and cute. Unfortunately, that was not the case. This book is full of petty arguments, constant bickering, and a love triangle that I found to be pure cringe. Reading a romance with a love triangle element and not liking any of the three makes for a very uncomfortable experience, which was the case I had in this book. If this book wouldn't have been so petty in all of its conflicts, there is a chance that I could have gotten more into the story, but the lack of liking the characters is what really made this one a miss for me.
Despite all the things I despised about this book, there is also much that I can admire. It is not often that one sees a Bangladeshi girl who is also fat and a lesbian who is trying to live her life unapologetically as herself in literature. This is really refreshing, and definitely one of my favorite parts about this book. I'm not saying that Shireen doesn't face any challenges (she is constantly made fun of for her race and body type as well as commonly referred to as Indian), but she thrives as herself despite them.
Shireen is also a very anxious individual who experiences extreme panic attacks. This is something that resonates strongly with me as a person, and I can really empathize with her. Unfortunately, I still didn't find myself forming a strong connection with her.
Overall, "The Dos and Donuts of Love" was a very disappointing read. I was really looking forward to reading this one and it ended up not even coming close to my standards. I appreciate the marginalized MC, her enthusiastic nature, and the important themes, but this wasn't enough to have me liking this book. I'm saddened that this one didn't hit for me, but I will definitely check out more of Jaigirdar's work in the future. I'm optimistic that I could like her other books due to her writing style and witty nature. It stinks that this one was a miss, but hopefully the next one will be a hit!
A laugh-out-loud underwater adventure starring a plain girl with a heart of gold.
Jane Brown's parents have just passed away and now she is about to be kicked out of her own house so her male cousin can inherit the estate. That is, unless she can get married in less than a week. With one hope left, Jane goes into the nearby village and inquires for the handsome Peter. Moments after Peter agrees to marry her, he is kidnapped by an illustrious mermaid who also wants to marry him. Jane sets out on a desperate quest to save her fiancé from the mermaid that has stolen him away. As Jane explores the murky depths, she discovers that horrors beyond her imagination lie just beneath the water's surface. . .
I've read several of Brosgol's books and have felt pretty mid towards them. This one though, is an absolute banger. It is a fantastic middle grade graphic novel indeed. The premise is fun, I found myself laughing aloud over and over again, and the themes are things that all children deserve to hear.
The characters are what truly bring this story to life. Jane, our protagonist, has a heart of gold and she is willing to do anything to help her friends. Peter is shallow, but in a way that with a little growth, he'll be a great boon to society. Mr. Whiskers (the talking seal, not the cat) is by far my favorite character. I adore his attitude, and the fact that he is a seal makes him S-tier. The mermaids each have their own charm, and I thought it was neat to learn about how the mermaid folklore worked in this world. Also, shoutout to Vodnik the Water Demon; he really helped breathe life into this story for the short appearance that he made.
I was shocked to learn Mr. Whiskers secret! I am well versed in many different folklores and for some reason, I never suspected that he was more than just a talking seal. Oh well, I can't predict them all. But being this surprised by a middle grade novel doesn't happen often, so good job Mr. Whiskers!
The messages in this book such as "things aren't always as they first appear" and that "true beauty lies within" are all great lessons that kids need to be exposed to. The world tells people from a young age that beauty is a key to happiness, and that if you aren't pretty, you won't find love. This is so false, especially because beauty is subjective. I'm so over people valuing physical appearances more than anything else, whether it be about romantic attraction or just showing people common courtesies. I'm glad that characters like Jane are becoming more and more popular and working to change the narrative that has toxically been thrown in our faces for way too long.
Overall, I adore "Plain Jane and the Mermaid." This story is the perfect mix of quirky, heartfelt, and inspiring, which had me hooked right away. The art is great, the characters are brilliant, and the themes this book portrays are much needed. I laughed aloud dozens of times throughout this graphic novel, which made this book a perfect serving of dopamine. I couldn't recommend this one enough to children and adults alike who are looking for fun fantasy adventure stories!
Jane Brown's parents have just passed away and now she is about to be kicked out of her own house so her male cousin can inherit the estate. That is, unless she can get married in less than a week. With one hope left, Jane goes into the nearby village and inquires for the handsome Peter. Moments after Peter agrees to marry her, he is kidnapped by an illustrious mermaid who also wants to marry him. Jane sets out on a desperate quest to save her fiancé from the mermaid that has stolen him away. As Jane explores the murky depths, she discovers that horrors beyond her imagination lie just beneath the water's surface. . .
I've read several of Brosgol's books and have felt pretty mid towards them. This one though, is an absolute banger. It is a fantastic middle grade graphic novel indeed. The premise is fun, I found myself laughing aloud over and over again, and the themes are things that all children deserve to hear.
The characters are what truly bring this story to life. Jane, our protagonist, has a heart of gold and she is willing to do anything to help her friends. Peter is shallow, but in a way that with a little growth, he'll be a great boon to society. Mr. Whiskers (the talking seal, not the cat) is by far my favorite character. I adore his attitude, and the fact that he is a seal makes him S-tier. The mermaids each have their own charm, and I thought it was neat to learn about how the mermaid folklore worked in this world. Also, shoutout to Vodnik the Water Demon; he really helped breathe life into this story for the short appearance that he made.
I was shocked to learn Mr. Whiskers secret! I am well versed in many different folklores and for some reason, I never suspected that he was more than just a talking seal. Oh well, I can't predict them all. But being this surprised by a middle grade novel doesn't happen often, so good job Mr. Whiskers!
The messages in this book such as "things aren't always as they first appear" and that "true beauty lies within" are all great lessons that kids need to be exposed to. The world tells people from a young age that beauty is a key to happiness, and that if you aren't pretty, you won't find love. This is so false, especially because beauty is subjective. I'm so over people valuing physical appearances more than anything else, whether it be about romantic attraction or just showing people common courtesies. I'm glad that characters like Jane are becoming more and more popular and working to change the narrative that has toxically been thrown in our faces for way too long.
Overall, I adore "Plain Jane and the Mermaid." This story is the perfect mix of quirky, heartfelt, and inspiring, which had me hooked right away. The art is great, the characters are brilliant, and the themes this book portrays are much needed. I laughed aloud dozens of times throughout this graphic novel, which made this book a perfect serving of dopamine. I couldn't recommend this one enough to children and adults alike who are looking for fun fantasy adventure stories!
The little-known story of Jo van Gogh, the woman who saved Vincent van Gogh's art from obscurity.
It's 1891 and Jo is living in the shadow of her husband, Theo van Gogh, an art dealer determined to sell unknown artists. When Theo suddenly passes away, Jo is forced to take things into her own hands. She opens a boardinghouse rather than move back in with her father, freeing her from the burdens of her family. Unwilling to let the van Gogh name fade into obscurity, Jo takes it upon herself to force the art world to take Vincent van Gogh seriously.
I'm gonna be completely honest here: I know literally nothing about art history and picked up this book to see if it is something that interested me. I'm gonna say I'll pass next time. Despite the fact that I was greatly bored by over half of this book, I still feel that it is a well-written, well-researched book that showcases the power of a woman who risked everything to defy tradition and stand up for what she believes in. Stories like this are super important, and I'm glad that someone is showing Jo van Gogh the respect that she deserves. She does so much for a man that she only met a handful of times and whose family she was a part of for little over a year. This type of dedication is inspirational, and I hope people find solace in Jo's story.
Upon finishing this book, I was shocked to learn that Raulf was a fictional character. Raulf is the art dealer that constantly faces against Jo and refuses to let van Gogh's work enter the Paris scene. He was the perfect addition to this story to keep constant pressure on Jo's endeavors that otherwise would have been a lot slower paced. The author did a wonderful job condensing all of van Gogh's critics into one entity who kept the story rolling.
Overall, "Saving Vincent" is a book that is totally out of my typical genres that I read. Despite this, I didn't hate my time with this book, though I did find it to be incredibly slow and boring at times. I'm glad that this book notified me of Jo van Gogh's existence and gave me the chance to appreciate all she did for the art world. I have little interest in the history of art, but I can still look up to Jo's dedication to go against the norm and never give up on her ideals.
It's 1891 and Jo is living in the shadow of her husband, Theo van Gogh, an art dealer determined to sell unknown artists. When Theo suddenly passes away, Jo is forced to take things into her own hands. She opens a boardinghouse rather than move back in with her father, freeing her from the burdens of her family. Unwilling to let the van Gogh name fade into obscurity, Jo takes it upon herself to force the art world to take Vincent van Gogh seriously.
I'm gonna be completely honest here: I know literally nothing about art history and picked up this book to see if it is something that interested me. I'm gonna say I'll pass next time. Despite the fact that I was greatly bored by over half of this book, I still feel that it is a well-written, well-researched book that showcases the power of a woman who risked everything to defy tradition and stand up for what she believes in. Stories like this are super important, and I'm glad that someone is showing Jo van Gogh the respect that she deserves. She does so much for a man that she only met a handful of times and whose family she was a part of for little over a year. This type of dedication is inspirational, and I hope people find solace in Jo's story.
Upon finishing this book, I was shocked to learn that Raulf was a fictional character. Raulf is the art dealer that constantly faces against Jo and refuses to let van Gogh's work enter the Paris scene. He was the perfect addition to this story to keep constant pressure on Jo's endeavors that otherwise would have been a lot slower paced. The author did a wonderful job condensing all of van Gogh's critics into one entity who kept the story rolling.
Overall, "Saving Vincent" is a book that is totally out of my typical genres that I read. Despite this, I didn't hate my time with this book, though I did find it to be incredibly slow and boring at times. I'm glad that this book notified me of Jo van Gogh's existence and gave me the chance to appreciate all she did for the art world. I have little interest in the history of art, but I can still look up to Jo's dedication to go against the norm and never give up on her ideals.
A love triangle romance featuring an autistic girl who wants nothing more than to fit in, a nerdy theatre geek, and a notorious bad boy.
Jessie has always been a little different than her peers. Moments before she's to start ninth grade, Jessie is diagnosed with autism. Determined to keep her diagnosis a secret, Jessie sets goals of things that she wants to accomplish that will also bring her closer to being a "normal" kid. Upon entering Holy Trinity High, Jessie meets two boys. Firstly, there's Levi, her science partner who is more likely to skip class than to perform the scientific method accurately. Secondly, there's Griffin, a nerdy theatre kid whose portrait she is forced to draw for her first art assignment. Despite the fact that she is finally making friends, Jessie learns that ninth grade is more complicated than she could have ever imagined it being.
This novel doesn't have a true plot point that keeps the story going. Rather it is a slice of life of Jessie's experiences as she navigates her freshmen year of high school. I really enjoyed just shadowing Jessie's life and seeing how different people experience the same events.
Jessie is an autistic Canadian girl who also is of Palestinian decent. These are three things that make me different from Jessie, but I still found her to be a highly relatable protagonist. Not only did I relate to her, I also learned a ton from just following her day-to-day existence. Seeing Jessie deal with strict Arab parents, racial bullying, confusion at people not saying what they mean, and learning to mask less as she learns to trust people were all very insightful things that had me expanding my empathetic abilities.
The characters in this book are very realistic and I found myself getting to know them all well (even the ones that I didn't like). Jessie's friend group is especially a little suspicious, but they mostly treat her okay despite their toxic vibes. Cat is an actual demon who doesn't do anything nice throughout the entirety of this book. Odelia and Mel both seem alright, despite the dumb decisions that they make constantly. Mel gets bonus points for her interest in theatre tech, but I still wouldn't want to be friends with her myself. Also, I remember almost all of the main cast's names without having to reference them an entire day after finishing the book, which is quite a feat for me. I am notoriously bad at name recall, and the fact I remember so much of the supporting cast's names is a testament to the author's character building.
This has got to be one of the most successful love triangle books that I have read. Not only did I see why both boys appealed to Jessie, it played out in a way that didn't have me upset at pretty much any point. Yes, Levi paid her attention from the get-go, but that doesn't mean I wasn't shipping her with Griffin by their second interaction. Also, the fact that she met them both on the same day put them on equal playing fields from day one. If there's a childhood bestie involved, you know on jumping on their team.
Speaking of Griffin, I would totally be besties with him in real life. Not only is he an awesome theatre kid who would be a blast to perform alongside, he is also a sweet boy that overthinks everything. I love the way him and Jessie casually bond from the very beginning of the book; it's truly no surprise that I was on team Griffin from early on.
I wasn't expecting this book to include theatre elements, so I was pleasantly surprised when Jessie had an interest in the art form. Holy Trinity High ends up putting on a pretty awesome musical in the latter half of the book, which I entirely ate up.
Overall, I had a very pleasant evening reading "Something More." The characters were really strong, the diversity was widespread, and the romance was cute. The love triangle wasn't overbearing and I actually saw why Jessie liked both guys (I'm totally team Griffin, though!). The theatre elements were icing on an already amazing cake for me. I'm so happy that this one was such a solid read; now I can add it to a ton of different recommendation lists!
Jessie has always been a little different than her peers. Moments before she's to start ninth grade, Jessie is diagnosed with autism. Determined to keep her diagnosis a secret, Jessie sets goals of things that she wants to accomplish that will also bring her closer to being a "normal" kid. Upon entering Holy Trinity High, Jessie meets two boys. Firstly, there's Levi, her science partner who is more likely to skip class than to perform the scientific method accurately. Secondly, there's Griffin, a nerdy theatre kid whose portrait she is forced to draw for her first art assignment. Despite the fact that she is finally making friends, Jessie learns that ninth grade is more complicated than she could have ever imagined it being.
This novel doesn't have a true plot point that keeps the story going. Rather it is a slice of life of Jessie's experiences as she navigates her freshmen year of high school. I really enjoyed just shadowing Jessie's life and seeing how different people experience the same events.
Jessie is an autistic Canadian girl who also is of Palestinian decent. These are three things that make me different from Jessie, but I still found her to be a highly relatable protagonist. Not only did I relate to her, I also learned a ton from just following her day-to-day existence. Seeing Jessie deal with strict Arab parents, racial bullying, confusion at people not saying what they mean, and learning to mask less as she learns to trust people were all very insightful things that had me expanding my empathetic abilities.
The characters in this book are very realistic and I found myself getting to know them all well (even the ones that I didn't like). Jessie's friend group is especially a little suspicious, but they mostly treat her okay despite their toxic vibes. Cat is an actual demon who doesn't do anything nice throughout the entirety of this book. Odelia and Mel both seem alright, despite the dumb decisions that they make constantly. Mel gets bonus points for her interest in theatre tech, but I still wouldn't want to be friends with her myself. Also, I remember almost all of the main cast's names without having to reference them an entire day after finishing the book, which is quite a feat for me. I am notoriously bad at name recall, and the fact I remember so much of the supporting cast's names is a testament to the author's character building.
This has got to be one of the most successful love triangle books that I have read. Not only did I see why both boys appealed to Jessie, it played out in a way that didn't have me upset at pretty much any point. Yes, Levi paid her attention from the get-go, but that doesn't mean I wasn't shipping her with Griffin by their second interaction. Also, the fact that she met them both on the same day put them on equal playing fields from day one. If there's a childhood bestie involved, you know on jumping on their team.
Speaking of Griffin, I would totally be besties with him in real life. Not only is he an awesome theatre kid who would be a blast to perform alongside, he is also a sweet boy that overthinks everything. I love the way him and Jessie casually bond from the very beginning of the book; it's truly no surprise that I was on team Griffin from early on.
I wasn't expecting this book to include theatre elements, so I was pleasantly surprised when Jessie had an interest in the art form. Holy Trinity High ends up putting on a pretty awesome musical in the latter half of the book, which I entirely ate up.
Overall, I had a very pleasant evening reading "Something More." The characters were really strong, the diversity was widespread, and the romance was cute. The love triangle wasn't overbearing and I actually saw why Jessie liked both guys (I'm totally team Griffin, though!). The theatre elements were icing on an already amazing cake for me. I'm so happy that this one was such a solid read; now I can add it to a ton of different recommendation lists!