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zinelib's reviews
571 reviews
Overgrowth by Mira Grant
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Overgrowth is overwritten. The novel's concept, being in the mind of an alien colonizer who was born and raised on Earth and didn't realize her bloodlust until the invasion, is a fascinating thought experiment. But it should have been a novella instead of 480 pages. I read a DRC, so maybe (maybe?) they'll weed the book before it comes out in May?
The characters are really good. Anastasia--Ana at work and Stasia to her friends--is the main character. Her boyfriend, Graham (a trans man, because I know you'd want to know this novel is queer) is a herpetologist, and her roommates, Mandy and Lucas have shared nerdy interests. Other than that, Stasia doesn't have a lot of friends. That might be because she can't shut up about being an alien on the vanguard of an invasion. Some people find that annoying.
The characters are really good. Anastasia--Ana at work and Stasia to her friends--is the main character. Her boyfriend, Graham (a trans man, because I know you'd want to know this novel is queer) is a herpetologist, and her roommates, Mandy and Lucas have shared nerdy interests. Other than that, Stasia doesn't have a lot of friends. That might be because she can't shut up about being an alien on the vanguard of an invasion. Some people find that annoying.
README.txt by Chelsea Manning
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
5.0
One thing I didn't realize about Chelsea Manning is how young she was--when she joined the army and when she did what she did. She was born and mostly raised in Oklahoma (with a soupçon of Wales and I think Maryland). The main thing she had going for her as the closeted queer/trans child of an alcoholic and a blowhard was her affinity with computers. That's also what worked for her in army intelligence. Anyway, you probably know the highlights of Manning's story. It's an enjoyable/sad read that makes you hate how Don't Ask Don't Tell isolates people--like many trans people, Manning made two suicide attempts, one while in the army and one in prison.
I listened to the audiobook, which I recommend, but I'll also warn that hearing a voice that sounds like voices I associate with male-presenting people made it harder for me to get and keep the right pronouns in my head.
I listened to the audiobook, which I recommend, but I'll also warn that hearing a voice that sounds like voices I associate with male-presenting people made it harder for me to get and keep the right pronouns in my head.
Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
They kind of had me at nonbinary lesbian birder teen, and the story is as compelling as the four-word description of its protagonist. Title character Bianca identifies as a sheep. As their title characteristic indicates, they've got some issues. They only have one friend, Anderson, a popular cis guy who shares their taste in nerdy fandoms. They're out to their sister, Kate,* but not their parents or anyone other than Anderson. A running theme in the book is Bianca's list of fears (complete list at the end), things like public speaking/humiliation, my mom reading my semi-erotic fanfic, being alone, beautiful people, phone calls, being needed in a crisis, and Doki Doki Literature Club! Bianca is awesome, but they are a little bit creepy in that they use their birding telescope to spy on their neighbors, which is sort of what gets them in trouble, but only sort of, because cult.
The book is a murder mystery/thriller. It has a sense of humor but isn't too wink wink about it the way some books are.
*their mom loves Shakespeare, but I didn't notice any other Taming of the Shrew similarities.
The book is a murder mystery/thriller. It has a sense of humor but isn't too wink wink about it the way some books are.
*their mom loves Shakespeare, but I didn't notice any other Taming of the Shrew similarities.
She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
The writing is beautiful, but I I can't get into it.
Kidnapped Idol: A Kpop Romance Book by Jennie Bennett
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Jenica Lee and Kpop idol Woon meet by accident at the Great Wall of China. Jenica doesn't know who Woon is, and Woon loves that. The next time they meet, in traffic, Jenica has learned more about Woon, but it doesn't matter because they're already in love--and in danger. This is a short, dumb, but also compelling Kpop romance. The main Kpop trope is the evil label owner, and of course the impossibly handsome and talentedness of its star.
Baby Bank by Sarah Robinson
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
34-year-old single pansexual lawyer/stand-up comedian Mila Torres is at her regular gyno visit and her doctor brings up that her fertility is waning, and she might want to freeze some eggs or buy some sperm. Mila realizes that even though this MD is kind of a creep, he's right. She does want to have a kid, and time is of the essence.
At the other end of the birth industrial complex, a persistent reporter wants info on one of Mila's clients, a politician who is trying to block reproductive rights (even though he recently pressured a mistress to have an abortion).
Mila learns about an app called Baby Bank that connects prospective parents with prospective sperm. Some of the guys only want to donate the old-fashioned way, but there one super sweet guy, Aston, who has helped so many people get pregnant there's a Facebook group for all his progeny, and family reunions. He's got an info packet and references, who Mila calls. The first one is his mom!
It turns out that Aston is siblings with the persistent reporter, Ari, who Mila developed and instant, mutual crush on. You know the drill from there.
It's a cute story, but there's something about it that rubbed me the wrong way.
At the other end of the birth industrial complex, a persistent reporter wants info on one of Mila's clients, a politician who is trying to block reproductive rights (even though he recently pressured a mistress to have an abortion).
Mila learns about an app called Baby Bank that connects prospective parents with prospective sperm. Some of the guys only want to donate the old-fashioned way, but there one super sweet guy, Aston, who has helped so many people get pregnant there's a Facebook group for all his progeny, and family reunions. He's got an info packet and references, who Mila calls. The first one is his mom!
It turns out that Aston is siblings with the persistent reporter, Ari, who Mila developed and instant, mutual crush on. You know the drill from there.
It's a cute story, but there's something about it that rubbed me the wrong way.
Your child will choose their gender one day. I flipped to the second one and that one read, But if you have to follow an antiquated tradition, the blood test indicates you're pregnant with a girl.
That was the last time I would use a queer bakery.
The search for Anna Fisher by Florence Fisher
challenging
informative
fast-paced
4.5
I hadn't thought a ton about adoption and adoptee's rights, at least same race/nationality adoptions. I learned from a Bluesky follow that there is a lot of frustration with the system as far as adoptees are concerned. The enterprise is entirely built around parental rights, privacy, etc. In this memoir of her search for her natural parents, Florence Fisher faces block after block. She is called an ingrate for even wanting to know about her biological parents. The doctor and lawyer who arranged her adoption are downright cruel to her.
Fisher is tenacious and eventually does connect to her birth parents. It's a surprisingly quick and compelling read, and now I want to know a lot more!
Fisher is tenacious and eventually does connect to her birth parents. It's a surprisingly quick and compelling read, and now I want to know a lot more!
Fly With Me by Andie Burke
The hair quote isn't important, I just liked it, for the word "curated."
The meet cute in this fake dating queer romance takes place at altitude. Olive, a nurse who is terrified of flying, is on a plane for the first time, motivated by a promise she made to her dying brother. Luckily, she's able to snap out of her panic to save a passenger, who turns out to kind of be Mickey Mouse. Stella is the plane's co-pilot and feeling bad for Olive that the plane's diversion to Atlanta is going to keep her from her mission in Orlando, offers to drive her there.
The two women are immediately hot for each other, but for whatever reasons can't just come out and say so. Therefore, Stella semi-contrives the fake dating scenario, saying she needs the PR to get her captain's wings, which could be her ailing father's deepest desire.
The most charming relationship is Olive's with her best friend and fellow nurse Derek. There's also a good dog, a very bad ex, and some dumbass orthodox Christian family members.
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Her beachy blond hair was pulled back into a curated wild ponytail.
The hair quote isn't important, I just liked it, for the word "curated."
The meet cute in this fake dating queer romance takes place at altitude. Olive, a nurse who is terrified of flying, is on a plane for the first time, motivated by a promise she made to her dying brother. Luckily, she's able to snap out of her panic to save a passenger, who turns out to kind of be Mickey Mouse. Stella is the plane's co-pilot and feeling bad for Olive that the plane's diversion to Atlanta is going to keep her from her mission in Orlando, offers to drive her there.
The two women are immediately hot for each other, but for whatever reasons can't just come out and say so. Therefore, Stella semi-contrives the fake dating scenario, saying she needs the PR to get her captain's wings, which could be her ailing father's deepest desire.
The most charming relationship is Olive's with her best friend and fellow nurse Derek. There's also a good dog, a very bad ex, and some dumbass orthodox Christian family members.
Paper Dolls by Susan Beth Pfeffer
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
It's the 1980s and too-tall Laurie is bored with her life--school, boyfriend, etc. But one day, she gets discovered! She's asked to join a modeling agency. At first her mom is against it, but after a while, she gets hooked. Laurie goes from nobody to top model almost immediately, even becoming best friends with her biggest rival, Taryn. As Laurie and her mom get caught up in fashion life, Laurie's stepdad becomes concerned about what's happening to their family. Laurie's boyfriend is kind of douchey about it, as are her friends.
Uncle Vampire by Cynthia D. Grant
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
They just don't make YA like they did in the 20th century. I love 21st century YA, too, but there's something just so earnest/innocent about the earlier years of the genre. Carolyn lives with twin sister, brother, parents, and uncle Toddy. Her sister is away at school in Boston and doesn't seem to be coming back. It's a depressed household, except for Toddy, who never seems to age.
Carolyn is sure he's a vampire. Honey seems to be on the fence and refuses to discuss it. Because she's getting her blood sucked every night, Carolyn is starting to do less well in school, and her personal relationships are suffering. Luckily, one teacher takes an interest, and helps Carolyn share her secret...which isn't what she thinks it is.
Carolyn is sure he's a vampire. Honey seems to be on the fence and refuses to discuss it. Because she's getting her blood sucked every night, Carolyn is starting to do less well in school, and her personal relationships are suffering. Luckily, one teacher takes an interest, and helps Carolyn share her secret...which isn't what she thinks it is.
Ms. Johnson's eyes try to enter mine, but I've locked them. Then I throw away the key. then I forget that the key existed. The I forget that I forgot.