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thebooknerdscorner's reviews
1451 reviews
How the Boogeyman Became a Poet by Tony Keith Jr.
4.0
A moving memoir told in verse about being a poor, gay, black boy and the adversity that one faces from society for just trying to be themself.
Memoirs told in verse are a pretty niche genre, but one that I always end up enjoying immensely. Tony's poems are moving, and it was cool how he still had access to many of the poems that he wrote as a young adult that he could include in this manuscript. This blending of past and future Tony was really neat.
This memoir nails down a ton of lessons about life that can sometimes be hard to grasp in reality. Tony implores us to conquer our demons, rise above our financial standing, and go after our dreams no matter how far-fetched they may seem. I love when people are willing to share so many personal details about their lives in the hope of inspiring others to live their best lives, too.
I think my favorite part about this book is how Tony talks about this script that society expects everyone to follow (which has also been enforced by Hollywood): The boy is supposed to get the girl, prom night is a rite of passage where fourth base should be passed, they're supposed to go to college together, get fancy degrees, have sex along the way, eventually have children, and be successful parents together. This though, is far from anyone's reality and puts so much pressure on people who feel like they have to follow this script but feel like it doesn't capture who they are. I was lucky enough to not care what society thought about me and my early life decisions that affected my entire life, but most people aren't blessed with such strong wills.
Overall, "How the Boogeyman Became a Poet" is a moving memoir told in masterful poetry that explores many deep topics about growing up, embracing one's individuality, and coming to peace with oneself. It also urges us to chase our dreams, conquer our demons, and defy the narrative that society expects from us and thrive while doing so. I would definitely recommend this quick read for lovers of poetry, stories by diverse voices, and inspirational narratives.
Memoirs told in verse are a pretty niche genre, but one that I always end up enjoying immensely. Tony's poems are moving, and it was cool how he still had access to many of the poems that he wrote as a young adult that he could include in this manuscript. This blending of past and future Tony was really neat.
This memoir nails down a ton of lessons about life that can sometimes be hard to grasp in reality. Tony implores us to conquer our demons, rise above our financial standing, and go after our dreams no matter how far-fetched they may seem. I love when people are willing to share so many personal details about their lives in the hope of inspiring others to live their best lives, too.
I think my favorite part about this book is how Tony talks about this script that society expects everyone to follow (which has also been enforced by Hollywood): The boy is supposed to get the girl, prom night is a rite of passage where fourth base should be passed, they're supposed to go to college together, get fancy degrees, have sex along the way, eventually have children, and be successful parents together. This though, is far from anyone's reality and puts so much pressure on people who feel like they have to follow this script but feel like it doesn't capture who they are. I was lucky enough to not care what society thought about me and my early life decisions that affected my entire life, but most people aren't blessed with such strong wills.
Overall, "How the Boogeyman Became a Poet" is a moving memoir told in masterful poetry that explores many deep topics about growing up, embracing one's individuality, and coming to peace with oneself. It also urges us to chase our dreams, conquer our demons, and defy the narrative that society expects from us and thrive while doing so. I would definitely recommend this quick read for lovers of poetry, stories by diverse voices, and inspirational narratives.
Off Menu by Oliver Gerlach
2.0
A cozy, queer graphic novel about a girl learning to overcome her abusive boss and unite her community in their love of cooking.
Soup is less than satisfied with her life as a chef at the Brazen Manticore. Her boss, Trysil Heldritch, is abusive both to his staff and the entirety of the town that he bribes, coerces, and rules with an iron fist. Soup doesn't want to stir up trouble, but she feels obligated to do something to help her people and will stop at nothing to take the tyrant down.
This one has a decent premise, but the execution wasn't all that good. A young girl who was raised in a restaurant by the name of the Brazen Manticore stands up against her cranky boss who treats his staff as less than human. The story isn't all that unique, and it sorta feeds into a ton of different stereotype-esque tropes involving mystical creatures. The fae are magic beings in the woods that lash out at people. Their boss is a stuck-up elf-like being who only cares about himself. The satyr is a semi-erratic sidekick whose main purpose is to support the protagonist, who (wait for it) loves to eat. I wish that this narrative would have strayed a bit more from common stereotypes and made the different creatures featured their own in some way.
The overarching theme of the book is also a bit weird. I totally support standing up to those who are oppressive, but it made me sad that Soup only saw her worth through the act of being a better chef. She felt obligated to beat Heldritch in a cook off, and I think this story would have benefited if Soup would have realized her own self-worth rather than strove for the approval of others.
The art style also isn't my absolute favorite, and I found it slightly annoying how often this story told the reader things rather than let them figure it out for themselves. One of my biggest pet peeves in graphic novels is when they over explain themself through text rather than let the images and dialogue speak for themselves.
Overall, I was hoping that "Off Menu" would be a super cutesy story about finding your people and feeling confident in oneself. Unfortunately, this novel took a very cliche approach to the entire storyline and the magical setting. This wasn't a horrible read, but I found myself growing bored about halfway through and a few of the elements in it are just plain icky. Not bad, but not great either.
Soup is less than satisfied with her life as a chef at the Brazen Manticore. Her boss, Trysil Heldritch, is abusive both to his staff and the entirety of the town that he bribes, coerces, and rules with an iron fist. Soup doesn't want to stir up trouble, but she feels obligated to do something to help her people and will stop at nothing to take the tyrant down.
This one has a decent premise, but the execution wasn't all that good. A young girl who was raised in a restaurant by the name of the Brazen Manticore stands up against her cranky boss who treats his staff as less than human. The story isn't all that unique, and it sorta feeds into a ton of different stereotype-esque tropes involving mystical creatures. The fae are magic beings in the woods that lash out at people. Their boss is a stuck-up elf-like being who only cares about himself. The satyr is a semi-erratic sidekick whose main purpose is to support the protagonist, who (wait for it) loves to eat. I wish that this narrative would have strayed a bit more from common stereotypes and made the different creatures featured their own in some way.
The overarching theme of the book is also a bit weird. I totally support standing up to those who are oppressive, but it made me sad that Soup only saw her worth through the act of being a better chef. She felt obligated to beat Heldritch in a cook off, and I think this story would have benefited if Soup would have realized her own self-worth rather than strove for the approval of others.
The art style also isn't my absolute favorite, and I found it slightly annoying how often this story told the reader things rather than let them figure it out for themselves. One of my biggest pet peeves in graphic novels is when they over explain themself through text rather than let the images and dialogue speak for themselves.
Overall, I was hoping that "Off Menu" would be a super cutesy story about finding your people and feeling confident in oneself. Unfortunately, this novel took a very cliche approach to the entire storyline and the magical setting. This wasn't a horrible read, but I found myself growing bored about halfway through and a few of the elements in it are just plain icky. Not bad, but not great either.
One Last Breath by Ginny Myers Sain
Mount Orange, Florida is known for its beautiful freshwater springs where divers spend much of their time basking in the peaceful waters. It is also known for the Hidden Glen murders that happened twenty years ago and ended with Bailey and Celeste dead in the water. Now, the entire town remains paranoid that the killer remains among them even after all this time. After the accident that led to her sister dying, Tru can't help but be obsessed with all the needless death that has occurred in her hometown. When a young girl named Rio mysteriously appears and demands to know more about Bailey and Celeste's deaths, Tru's life changes forever as she begins to learn the truth about what happened to the two girls. And how deeply involved she is in the case.
I've been wanting to read all of Myers Sain's books ever since I learned they existed, so I'm glad that I finally had the chance to pick one up. It was even better than I thought it was going to be! This is hands down one of the best thrillers that I have ever read; I know that the next time I'm looking for this kind of thrilling high, I will turn to another one of her books.
I felt a connection to Tru from the very first page. I may not be as addicted to death as she is, but I can certainly understand wanting to escape the mundanity of life and the uncertainty that comes with trying to figure out one's future plans. The fact that she is a free diver is something I've never read about in a book, which was pretty cool. She has lived through so much trauma, grief, and horrific events but she is still so strong and resilient; it's hard not to cheer her on.
As the book progressed, I was very suspicious of a few characters. Despite feeling pretty confident I knew who was behind certain things, Myers Sain did such an amazing job pulling all of the main characters into suspicion toward the end of the novel and I truly didn't know who to trust. I was convinced that some people would never hurt a fly, but that didn't make the fact that Tru and Rio were stranded in the middle of the woods with nothing to protect themselves but a baseball bat and a prayer any less horrifying to experience. Camping and stranded in the woods horror is so freaky, and I couldn't imagine putting myself in these girls' shoes. It was a tad difficult to fall asleep after reading this one; I'm so glad I didn't bring this one camping with me.
The magical realism aspects of this book play with the idea of reincarnation, destiny, and fated friendships. All of these topics are really neat, and I love thinking about them. Reading the author's note about this was very enlightening, too. I find the idea of there being certain people we are destined to meet to be very cool, and it would be amazing if the reason we connect with some people so deeply is because we knew them in another life. This definitely added a super mysterious and twisty element to this thriller, but I also love the authenticity that the author feels about this subject.
The thing I was most split about in this novel is the romance element. Tru's long time boyfriend, East, is literally the sweetest man in the entire world. I am a sucker for the childhood friends to lovers trope, so it broke my heart watching Tru grow away from him. On the other hand, when Tru is destined to be with Rio, it is so hard to want them to stay away from each other. I am still extremely conflicted about this love triangle, but I also want the best for Tru. That doesn't stop East from being my favorite character. He goes through so much strife throughout the course of this book, and my heart really goes out to him. And the fact he is so loyal to Tru through everything is so cute and honestly inspirational. Everyone deserves someone who will go to the lengths that East does for Tru. Even if it is platonically.
Overall, I was blown away by "One Last Breath." It is the perfect dose of wickedly twisted while also being so sweet and heartwarming. The murder mystery plot is enthralling, but the romance is also adorable. The whole fated meeting subtheme hits so hard and adds a magical element to this story that I just ate up. If you are a fan of thrillers with a hint of fantasy, I can't recommend this one enough! I am so excited to explore more of Myers Sain's work in the future; consider me a fan!
5.0
A thrilling mystery featuring two young girls who may have been destined to meet each other who will do anything to solve the murder that occurred in Mount Orange, Florida twenty years ago.
Mount Orange, Florida is known for its beautiful freshwater springs where divers spend much of their time basking in the peaceful waters. It is also known for the Hidden Glen murders that happened twenty years ago and ended with Bailey and Celeste dead in the water. Now, the entire town remains paranoid that the killer remains among them even after all this time. After the accident that led to her sister dying, Tru can't help but be obsessed with all the needless death that has occurred in her hometown. When a young girl named Rio mysteriously appears and demands to know more about Bailey and Celeste's deaths, Tru's life changes forever as she begins to learn the truth about what happened to the two girls. And how deeply involved she is in the case.
I've been wanting to read all of Myers Sain's books ever since I learned they existed, so I'm glad that I finally had the chance to pick one up. It was even better than I thought it was going to be! This is hands down one of the best thrillers that I have ever read; I know that the next time I'm looking for this kind of thrilling high, I will turn to another one of her books.
I felt a connection to Tru from the very first page. I may not be as addicted to death as she is, but I can certainly understand wanting to escape the mundanity of life and the uncertainty that comes with trying to figure out one's future plans. The fact that she is a free diver is something I've never read about in a book, which was pretty cool. She has lived through so much trauma, grief, and horrific events but she is still so strong and resilient; it's hard not to cheer her on.
There were many elements that I predicted about this book. Most of these incidents involved things appearing and disappearing at various times to add a super creepy scare factor. Despite predicting most of them happening, that didn't mean I knew exactly who was moving the things or how those things were going down.
As the book progressed, I was very suspicious of a few characters. Despite feeling pretty confident I knew who was behind certain things, Myers Sain did such an amazing job pulling all of the main characters into suspicion toward the end of the novel and I truly didn't know who to trust. I was convinced that some people would never hurt a fly, but that didn't make the fact that Tru and Rio were stranded in the middle of the woods with nothing to protect themselves but a baseball bat and a prayer any less horrifying to experience. Camping and stranded in the woods horror is so freaky, and I couldn't imagine putting myself in these girls' shoes. It was a tad difficult to fall asleep after reading this one; I'm so glad I didn't bring this one camping with me.
The magical realism aspects of this book play with the idea of reincarnation, destiny, and fated friendships. All of these topics are really neat, and I love thinking about them. Reading the author's note about this was very enlightening, too. I find the idea of there being certain people we are destined to meet to be very cool, and it would be amazing if the reason we connect with some people so deeply is because we knew them in another life. This definitely added a super mysterious and twisty element to this thriller, but I also love the authenticity that the author feels about this subject.
The thing I was most split about in this novel is the romance element. Tru's long time boyfriend, East, is literally the sweetest man in the entire world. I am a sucker for the childhood friends to lovers trope, so it broke my heart watching Tru grow away from him. On the other hand, when Tru is destined to be with Rio, it is so hard to want them to stay away from each other. I am still extremely conflicted about this love triangle, but I also want the best for Tru. That doesn't stop East from being my favorite character. He goes through so much strife throughout the course of this book, and my heart really goes out to him. And the fact he is so loyal to Tru through everything is so cute and honestly inspirational. Everyone deserves someone who will go to the lengths that East does for Tru. Even if it is platonically.
Overall, I was blown away by "One Last Breath." It is the perfect dose of wickedly twisted while also being so sweet and heartwarming. The murder mystery plot is enthralling, but the romance is also adorable. The whole fated meeting subtheme hits so hard and adds a magical element to this story that I just ate up. If you are a fan of thrillers with a hint of fantasy, I can't recommend this one enough! I am so excited to explore more of Myers Sain's work in the future; consider me a fan!
The Lost Queen by Aimee Phan
Jolie Lam is known as the class weirdo. Between her psychic grandfather and her psychotic break at a swim meet last year, no one wants anything to do with Jolie. That is, until she saves Huong Pham, one of the school's most popular girls, and Jolie's entire world begins to change. As Jolie and Huong's bond deepens, the two girls learn that their connection goes back generations and that there is more to their powers than first meets the eye. The girls begin to experiment with their powers in the hopes of determining just who they really are and just what it means to be a Lost Queen of ancient Vietnam.
For a while, I was seeing this book around literally everywhere. I usually love books based in Asian mythology, so I was stoked to learn that I was accepted for a book tour for "The Lost Queen." Unfortunately, this book seriously made me consider DNFing it, and that is quite the feat for me. I ended up sticking it out and it ended up going somewhere, but I didn't enjoy the ending enough to redeem this book.
The first hundred or so pages of this book were so confusing, jarring, and jumped around so much that I had a hard time following what was happening. I didn't care about literally anything in the book until almost page two hundred, and the main plot line doesn't start rolling until about halfway through this book. The pacing in this one is weird, I didn't find myself connecting with any of the characters, and the writing didn't do anything special for me.
This book was a super odd read because it was super confusing but also extremely predictable. In my opinion, the title and cover alone revealed too much and took away most of the wow factor that this book could have had. I don't even read the book flap summary before I start reading, and I still knew most of what happened in this book before I even opened the book.
I was expecting this book to be higher fantasy, so discovering that it was an urban fantasy was a bit of a letdown for me. This one is a little on me, but the cover just makes it seem so magical, and it wasn't nearly as fantastical as I wanted it to be.
I don't want to ramble about my dislike for this book anymore, so I'll cut it here. I hope that this one manages to reach that people that will enjoy it, but I found this one to be very disappointing.
Overall, "The Lost Queen" was a bit of a letdown for me. The beginning was confusing, the plot was predictable, and I couldn't bring myself to like any of the characters. I have no interest in pursuing the second book in this series and will try to put this disappointing read out of my mind as soon as possible.
2.0
A young girl learns to grapple with the mysterious visions and powers she is gradually acquiring while also trying to fit in at her prestigious high school in this urban fantasy inspired by Vietnamese mythology.
Jolie Lam is known as the class weirdo. Between her psychic grandfather and her psychotic break at a swim meet last year, no one wants anything to do with Jolie. That is, until she saves Huong Pham, one of the school's most popular girls, and Jolie's entire world begins to change. As Jolie and Huong's bond deepens, the two girls learn that their connection goes back generations and that there is more to their powers than first meets the eye. The girls begin to experiment with their powers in the hopes of determining just who they really are and just what it means to be a Lost Queen of ancient Vietnam.
For a while, I was seeing this book around literally everywhere. I usually love books based in Asian mythology, so I was stoked to learn that I was accepted for a book tour for "The Lost Queen." Unfortunately, this book seriously made me consider DNFing it, and that is quite the feat for me. I ended up sticking it out and it ended up going somewhere, but I didn't enjoy the ending enough to redeem this book.
The first hundred or so pages of this book were so confusing, jarring, and jumped around so much that I had a hard time following what was happening. I didn't care about literally anything in the book until almost page two hundred, and the main plot line doesn't start rolling until about halfway through this book. The pacing in this one is weird, I didn't find myself connecting with any of the characters, and the writing didn't do anything special for me.
This book was a super odd read because it was super confusing but also extremely predictable. In my opinion, the title and cover alone revealed too much and took away most of the wow factor that this book could have had. I don't even read the book flap summary before I start reading, and I still knew most of what happened in this book before I even opened the book.
I was expecting this book to be higher fantasy, so discovering that it was an urban fantasy was a bit of a letdown for me. This one is a little on me, but the cover just makes it seem so magical, and it wasn't nearly as fantastical as I wanted it to be.
I don't want to ramble about my dislike for this book anymore, so I'll cut it here. I hope that this one manages to reach that people that will enjoy it, but I found this one to be very disappointing.
Overall, "The Lost Queen" was a bit of a letdown for me. The beginning was confusing, the plot was predictable, and I couldn't bring myself to like any of the characters. I have no interest in pursuing the second book in this series and will try to put this disappointing read out of my mind as soon as possible.
I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain by Will Walton
2.0
A contemporary tale told in experimental poetry featuring a young queer teen as they learn to cope with grief and explore their sexuality.
Avery has hit a major low point in their life. When life gets you down, some people turn to alcohol. Some turn to violence. Some lay in bed and don't move for months. Avery turns to poetry. When Avery's life gets turned completely upside down, they must learn how to move on, even when the pain feels as though it's too much to bear.
Honestly, I figured that I probably wouldn't enjoy this one, but I kept walking past it at the library and the title always jumped out at me. Rather than keep picking this short poetry novel off the shelf time and time again, I decided to just check it out and sate my curiosity.
Unfortunately, my expectations for this book were completely and utterly met; I ended up not liking it very much. I appreciate how the author explores grief, sexuality, and growing up in a way that I can tell is so personal to him, but I couldn't relate to much of anything. I am a poetry fan, but not a poetry enthusiast, so most of the allusions to famous poets didn't resonate with me all that much. I also found many of the tactics that Walton applied in this novel to be a bit confusing and hard to follow.
Overall, "I Felt a Funeral, In My Brain" is a blip on the radar kind of book that I will have forgotten that I read in a matter of days. The story and messages didn't resonate with me personally, but I'm sure that others (especially die-hard poetry lovers) could vibe with this book quite well.
Avery has hit a major low point in their life. When life gets you down, some people turn to alcohol. Some turn to violence. Some lay in bed and don't move for months. Avery turns to poetry. When Avery's life gets turned completely upside down, they must learn how to move on, even when the pain feels as though it's too much to bear.
Honestly, I figured that I probably wouldn't enjoy this one, but I kept walking past it at the library and the title always jumped out at me. Rather than keep picking this short poetry novel off the shelf time and time again, I decided to just check it out and sate my curiosity.
Unfortunately, my expectations for this book were completely and utterly met; I ended up not liking it very much. I appreciate how the author explores grief, sexuality, and growing up in a way that I can tell is so personal to him, but I couldn't relate to much of anything. I am a poetry fan, but not a poetry enthusiast, so most of the allusions to famous poets didn't resonate with me all that much. I also found many of the tactics that Walton applied in this novel to be a bit confusing and hard to follow.
Overall, "I Felt a Funeral, In My Brain" is a blip on the radar kind of book that I will have forgotten that I read in a matter of days. The story and messages didn't resonate with me personally, but I'm sure that others (especially die-hard poetry lovers) could vibe with this book quite well.
Staying Married is the Hardest Part: A Memoir of Passion, Secrets, and Sacrifice by Bonnie Comfort
5.0
An open and honest memoir that unravels the complexity of marriage, explores sexuality, and spares no details when it comes to the ugly parts of relationships and the compromise needed for marriages to thrive.
This memoir really had me thinking about so many different things. This book may be Bonnie's personal life story with her husband, Bob, but it is definitely part self-help book, too. Bonnie is a psychologist with over thirty years of experience, and this is quite evident in the way she writes and the way that she explores relationships. Bonnie truly gets people.
I don't think I've ever read a memoir in which the author was so open about their sex life. Bonnie felt sexually broken for most of her adult life, which is a feeling that most women can honestly relate to in some way. The sexual relationship she had with her husband Bob is quite abnormal and is a bit abusive at times. I couldn't imagine being with someone who treated her like that for so many years, but reading this memoir in full, I understand why Bonnie stayed with him through all the ups and downs. The questions this book raises about consent and what is allowed in a long-term relationship was also quite fascinating to consider.
The way that Bonnie eventually learns to accept herself sexually is inspiring. All the facts that she shares with the reader about women orgasming during intercourse were quite enlightening, and I wish that resources such as this would be more widely available to young women who are trying to discover their sexual desires and preferences so that they all get the chance to avoid feeling broken for things that are perfectly normal. I've definitely been there, so it was really reassuring to read some of these facts (even thought this isn't the first time I've read some of this information).
Marriage is really about finding someone that accepts you for who you are who is also willing to compromise when it comes to things that you can't agree on. If a married couple can't agree to disagree, this is how relationships often come to an end. It is so inspirational to see how Bonnie stays for the long haul with Bob, even when he was completely depressed, sexually abusing her, and treating her with disrespect. This gives me hope that no matter the pitfalls I'll experience, I will be able to maintain a long-term relationship. To be completely honest though, I would have left Bob if he forced me to do some of the things he pressured Bonnie into doing. Some of these instances were so hard to read about; I can't fathom the man I love doing that to me.
The end portion of this book turns the emotions up to one hundred percent. Not only was watching Bob deteriorate such a sad experience, but reading about Bonnie healing in the aftermath of Bob being gone was so beautiful. Bonnie went through so much in their time together, and there is so much that she realizes about her and Bob's relationship after he is no longer with her. This is such a strong reminder that it can be so hard to see other's pain, and that open communication is truly the only way to know another's thoughts. Poor communication seems to be the ultimate kicker when it comes to many relationships, and the end section of this book did a great job reminding me of that.
Overall, "Staying Married is the Hardest Part" is an emotional read that is completely open and honest about the immense challenge it is to keep a marital relationship thriving. Bonnie dives deep into her sex life, the outdated mentalities she was raised on, and the strategies she used to compromise with her husband that she often disagreed with. This book is mainly a memoir, but it also acts as a psychology self-help book that allows the reader to take a deeper look at their relationships (both platonic and romantic). I was quite moved by this memoir and am honored that Bonnie was willing to share her story with me and the rest of the world.
This memoir really had me thinking about so many different things. This book may be Bonnie's personal life story with her husband, Bob, but it is definitely part self-help book, too. Bonnie is a psychologist with over thirty years of experience, and this is quite evident in the way she writes and the way that she explores relationships. Bonnie truly gets people.
I don't think I've ever read a memoir in which the author was so open about their sex life. Bonnie felt sexually broken for most of her adult life, which is a feeling that most women can honestly relate to in some way. The sexual relationship she had with her husband Bob is quite abnormal and is a bit abusive at times. I couldn't imagine being with someone who treated her like that for so many years, but reading this memoir in full, I understand why Bonnie stayed with him through all the ups and downs. The questions this book raises about consent and what is allowed in a long-term relationship was also quite fascinating to consider.
The way that Bonnie eventually learns to accept herself sexually is inspiring. All the facts that she shares with the reader about women orgasming during intercourse were quite enlightening, and I wish that resources such as this would be more widely available to young women who are trying to discover their sexual desires and preferences so that they all get the chance to avoid feeling broken for things that are perfectly normal. I've definitely been there, so it was really reassuring to read some of these facts (even thought this isn't the first time I've read some of this information).
Marriage is really about finding someone that accepts you for who you are who is also willing to compromise when it comes to things that you can't agree on. If a married couple can't agree to disagree, this is how relationships often come to an end. It is so inspirational to see how Bonnie stays for the long haul with Bob, even when he was completely depressed, sexually abusing her, and treating her with disrespect. This gives me hope that no matter the pitfalls I'll experience, I will be able to maintain a long-term relationship. To be completely honest though, I would have left Bob if he forced me to do some of the things he pressured Bonnie into doing. Some of these instances were so hard to read about; I can't fathom the man I love doing that to me.
The end portion of this book turns the emotions up to one hundred percent. Not only was watching Bob deteriorate such a sad experience, but reading about Bonnie healing in the aftermath of Bob being gone was so beautiful. Bonnie went through so much in their time together, and there is so much that she realizes about her and Bob's relationship after he is no longer with her. This is such a strong reminder that it can be so hard to see other's pain, and that open communication is truly the only way to know another's thoughts. Poor communication seems to be the ultimate kicker when it comes to many relationships, and the end section of this book did a great job reminding me of that.
Overall, "Staying Married is the Hardest Part" is an emotional read that is completely open and honest about the immense challenge it is to keep a marital relationship thriving. Bonnie dives deep into her sex life, the outdated mentalities she was raised on, and the strategies she used to compromise with her husband that she often disagreed with. This book is mainly a memoir, but it also acts as a psychology self-help book that allows the reader to take a deeper look at their relationships (both platonic and romantic). I was quite moved by this memoir and am honored that Bonnie was willing to share her story with me and the rest of the world.
Magic and Matchmaking by Tee Harlowe
5.0
A fake dating cozy romance novella featuring a sentient tea shop, a sassy pocket dragon, and a handsome bard.
Emma Thorne has spent years working as her father's assistant in his magical creature emporium. She is quite frankly fed up with bathing invisible cats, getting clawed by griffins, and scorched by ill-behaving dragons. When out of the blue an eccentric witch that runs the magical tea shop across the street offers Emma the chance to run her shop, Emma desperately takes it. After accepting the offer, Emma finds herself as the new owner of Steeped in Love. Unfortunately, things get more complicated when the sentient tea shop decides its hates how single she is and Emma finds herself forced to fake date her childhood best friend, Riven, who also happens to be a famous bard. As the two start faking a relationship, they both start to realize that it's harder to suppress the feelings from their youth that they have been avoiding for over a decade. . .
I was hooked by everything in this story. Not only is Harlowe a powerfully emotional writer, but she pens humorous scenes with such ease. I found myself laughing aloud, tearing up, and relating immensely to the experiences that Emma is going through. For such a short read, this one packed a great punch!
I found Emma quite easy to connect with. She finds herself stuck in a mundane life, helping her father run his business and making sure that he takes care of himself. She used to have dreams to travel with her best friend, Riven, but things have since changed since her father's health has deteriorated. She fears getting out of her comfort zone, pursuing her dreams, and letting her father down, which causes her to remain stuck in the same, unhappy position.
I am at a point in my life where I have to decide if I want to move in with my longtime boyfriend or stay in my hometown with my family. There is so much doubt and uncertainty that comes with making a decision such as this, but also such freedom and chances to seize new opportunities. Emma's story resonates deeply with me due to the fact that she has to be brave enough to seize her happiness, even if it means facing great change. I find this to be super inspiring, and I admire how she learns to balance her love for her father and for her newfound lover Riven.
Riven's character isn't nearly as in depth as Emma's, but I still find him pretty neat. He's a famous bard (the medieval equivalent to a rockstar is quite comical to think about), which is an interesting career to follow. He has achieved most anything he could dream up, but he finds his life unfulfilled. Riven still struggles with keeping his longtime crush at bay for his childhood best friend. It is absolutely adorable that he feels so drawn to Emma that he returns to his hometown in the hopes that he will see her again.
The rest of the cast of characters are quite eccentric in the best way. Herman is a sassy dragon who isn't afraid to speak his mind and insults Emma quite frequently. Draven is the grumpy bar tender who happens to mesh quite well with Riven's optimistic vibes. Monty, the original owner of the tea shop, is a kindly lady who is also a bit nuts. And the tea shop itself? Iconic. It's just casually chucking plates left and right and expecting everyone to love it.
I am an absolute sucker for the childhood best friends to lovers trope. The history that two friends who have known each other for more than two decades is extremely potent and I can't deny that Emma and Riven's chemistry was instantly recognizable. The way that fake dating was handled in this novella is also my favorite usage of fake dating (i.e. two people who are both crushing on each other agree to fake date for various reasons, but in reality, they just want to kiss each other but are too shy to say so). The usage of these two tropes in tandem made for a very enjoyable romance read. Also, the sex scenes were fire due to the long pent-up energy they had from pining for each other for over a decade.
Overall, "Magic & Matchmaking" is a splendid introduction to the "Moonflower Witches" series. For a novella, I was quite moved, and I found myself so attached to Emma in just a few pages. The characters are such a fun crew, and I hope that many of them show up in the future installments in this series. This novella is a powerful introduction to Harlowe's work that I can't recommend enough. I'm grateful that I've somehow found myself on her street team and that I will be getting ARC copies of all of the books in this series!
Emma Thorne has spent years working as her father's assistant in his magical creature emporium. She is quite frankly fed up with bathing invisible cats, getting clawed by griffins, and scorched by ill-behaving dragons. When out of the blue an eccentric witch that runs the magical tea shop across the street offers Emma the chance to run her shop, Emma desperately takes it. After accepting the offer, Emma finds herself as the new owner of Steeped in Love. Unfortunately, things get more complicated when the sentient tea shop decides its hates how single she is and Emma finds herself forced to fake date her childhood best friend, Riven, who also happens to be a famous bard. As the two start faking a relationship, they both start to realize that it's harder to suppress the feelings from their youth that they have been avoiding for over a decade. . .
I was hooked by everything in this story. Not only is Harlowe a powerfully emotional writer, but she pens humorous scenes with such ease. I found myself laughing aloud, tearing up, and relating immensely to the experiences that Emma is going through. For such a short read, this one packed a great punch!
I found Emma quite easy to connect with. She finds herself stuck in a mundane life, helping her father run his business and making sure that he takes care of himself. She used to have dreams to travel with her best friend, Riven, but things have since changed since her father's health has deteriorated. She fears getting out of her comfort zone, pursuing her dreams, and letting her father down, which causes her to remain stuck in the same, unhappy position.
I am at a point in my life where I have to decide if I want to move in with my longtime boyfriend or stay in my hometown with my family. There is so much doubt and uncertainty that comes with making a decision such as this, but also such freedom and chances to seize new opportunities. Emma's story resonates deeply with me due to the fact that she has to be brave enough to seize her happiness, even if it means facing great change. I find this to be super inspiring, and I admire how she learns to balance her love for her father and for her newfound lover Riven.
Riven's character isn't nearly as in depth as Emma's, but I still find him pretty neat. He's a famous bard (the medieval equivalent to a rockstar is quite comical to think about), which is an interesting career to follow. He has achieved most anything he could dream up, but he finds his life unfulfilled. Riven still struggles with keeping his longtime crush at bay for his childhood best friend. It is absolutely adorable that he feels so drawn to Emma that he returns to his hometown in the hopes that he will see her again.
The rest of the cast of characters are quite eccentric in the best way. Herman is a sassy dragon who isn't afraid to speak his mind and insults Emma quite frequently. Draven is the grumpy bar tender who happens to mesh quite well with Riven's optimistic vibes. Monty, the original owner of the tea shop, is a kindly lady who is also a bit nuts. And the tea shop itself? Iconic. It's just casually chucking plates left and right and expecting everyone to love it.
I am an absolute sucker for the childhood best friends to lovers trope. The history that two friends who have known each other for more than two decades is extremely potent and I can't deny that Emma and Riven's chemistry was instantly recognizable. The way that fake dating was handled in this novella is also my favorite usage of fake dating (i.e. two people who are both crushing on each other agree to fake date for various reasons, but in reality, they just want to kiss each other but are too shy to say so). The usage of these two tropes in tandem made for a very enjoyable romance read. Also, the sex scenes were fire due to the long pent-up energy they had from pining for each other for over a decade.
Overall, "Magic & Matchmaking" is a splendid introduction to the "Moonflower Witches" series. For a novella, I was quite moved, and I found myself so attached to Emma in just a few pages. The characters are such a fun crew, and I hope that many of them show up in the future installments in this series. This novella is a powerful introduction to Harlowe's work that I can't recommend enough. I'm grateful that I've somehow found myself on her street team and that I will be getting ARC copies of all of the books in this series!
Normal Kids by Melinda Di Lorenzo
3.0
A hi-lo book featuring a young teen who is desperate to protect her trouble-making younger brother.
Most seventeen-year-old girls spend their summers going to the beach and hanging out with their friends. Not Hannah Dresher. Hannah spends her summer vacation working long shifts, playing parent to her alcoholic mother, and trying to keep her younger brother, Seth, from making stupid decisions. One day when Hannah gets home from work, she realizes that Seth has disappeared with the rent money. Desperate to find him, Hannah sets out into the city on her own and meets a mysterious boy who is willing to help her hunt down her brother before it is too late.
For a hi-lo book, this one was actually pretty solid. I will be the first to admit that I only picked up this book because it uses the exact same stock photo as another hi-lo book that I read recently, and I found this fact to be absolutely hysterical. This one was worlds better than that one though, so I am grateful for that.
This book had three main things going for it: the dialogue was funny, the tension in the plot was solid, and there were only a few characters. These three things are really important because it made it feel like I was actually reading a decently penned story rather than sludging through a swamp (which is how most of my experiences with hi-lo books have been in the past).
The themes that this book explores are also heavy hitters. Between Hannah's alcoholic mother, the Dresher family's poor living conditions, and her brother who finds himself in a heap of trouble, this book is teeming with issues that many people face on a day to day basis. There are several parts of Hannah's life that I can relate to personally, but I am so grateful for everything that I had growing up; my heart goes out to those who have to deal with these things every day.
Overall, "Normal Kids" was a decent hi-lo book brimming with tension and witty dialogue. I can't say that it was the greatest book ever, but my expectations were greatly exceeded for what I thought the book was going to be. It also explores many adverse topics, even if it doesn't explore all of them in great detail.
Most seventeen-year-old girls spend their summers going to the beach and hanging out with their friends. Not Hannah Dresher. Hannah spends her summer vacation working long shifts, playing parent to her alcoholic mother, and trying to keep her younger brother, Seth, from making stupid decisions. One day when Hannah gets home from work, she realizes that Seth has disappeared with the rent money. Desperate to find him, Hannah sets out into the city on her own and meets a mysterious boy who is willing to help her hunt down her brother before it is too late.
For a hi-lo book, this one was actually pretty solid. I will be the first to admit that I only picked up this book because it uses the exact same stock photo as another hi-lo book that I read recently, and I found this fact to be absolutely hysterical. This one was worlds better than that one though, so I am grateful for that.
This book had three main things going for it: the dialogue was funny, the tension in the plot was solid, and there were only a few characters. These three things are really important because it made it feel like I was actually reading a decently penned story rather than sludging through a swamp (which is how most of my experiences with hi-lo books have been in the past).
The themes that this book explores are also heavy hitters. Between Hannah's alcoholic mother, the Dresher family's poor living conditions, and her brother who finds himself in a heap of trouble, this book is teeming with issues that many people face on a day to day basis. There are several parts of Hannah's life that I can relate to personally, but I am so grateful for everything that I had growing up; my heart goes out to those who have to deal with these things every day.
Overall, "Normal Kids" was a decent hi-lo book brimming with tension and witty dialogue. I can't say that it was the greatest book ever, but my expectations were greatly exceeded for what I thought the book was going to be. It also explores many adverse topics, even if it doesn't explore all of them in great detail.
Rainbow Bridge by Steve Orlando, Steve Foxe
3.0
A delightful comic that explores the grief of losing a pet through a magical adventure set across the Rainbow Bridge!
Andy's life has felt pretty empty after he lost his best friend, Rocket. Despite the fact that his parents constantly foster other animals, Andy still misses Rocket dearly. Just as Andy is supposed to be attending Freshman orientation, he visits Rocket's grave and is whisked across the Rainbow Bridge into the afterlife for beloved pets. Elated for the chance to see Rocket one last time, Andy sets off on an adventure of a lifetime.
This is a cute graphic novel that explores a topic very near and dear to many people's hearts: what happens to our pets after they leave our world? This is a concept that has been done time and time again, but I still felt that this book executed this theme well.
My favorite part about this book is definitely the imagery. The full color illustrations are lovely and truly depict this story in such a powerful way. The backgrounds are gorgeous, the details are stunning, and the characters are done with such skill.
Unfortunately, I feel as though this book ends rather abruptly. There is a major conflict that remains entirely unresolved with one character pretty much saying to another, "Don't worry; I got this, bro!" This wasn't a satisfying ending in any means, and the time jumps that the book uses at the end seem a bit lazy. This book isn't very long, so this was quite a blow to it.
Overall, "Rainbow Bridge" is a heartwarming graphic novel that explores grief, growing up, and moving on. It isn't the most in-depth or original, but the story is pretty solid. The art is also stunning, which is certainly the highlight of this graphic novel.
Andy's life has felt pretty empty after he lost his best friend, Rocket. Despite the fact that his parents constantly foster other animals, Andy still misses Rocket dearly. Just as Andy is supposed to be attending Freshman orientation, he visits Rocket's grave and is whisked across the Rainbow Bridge into the afterlife for beloved pets. Elated for the chance to see Rocket one last time, Andy sets off on an adventure of a lifetime.
This is a cute graphic novel that explores a topic very near and dear to many people's hearts: what happens to our pets after they leave our world? This is a concept that has been done time and time again, but I still felt that this book executed this theme well.
My favorite part about this book is definitely the imagery. The full color illustrations are lovely and truly depict this story in such a powerful way. The backgrounds are gorgeous, the details are stunning, and the characters are done with such skill.
Unfortunately, I feel as though this book ends rather abruptly. There is a major conflict that remains entirely unresolved with one character pretty much saying to another, "Don't worry; I got this, bro!" This wasn't a satisfying ending in any means, and the time jumps that the book uses at the end seem a bit lazy. This book isn't very long, so this was quite a blow to it.
Overall, "Rainbow Bridge" is a heartwarming graphic novel that explores grief, growing up, and moving on. It isn't the most in-depth or original, but the story is pretty solid. The art is also stunning, which is certainly the highlight of this graphic novel.