Honestly I should have hated this. I normally don’t like weird books and I normally don’t like character-driven books and this one was both but for soHonestly I should have hated this. I normally don’t like weird books and I normally don’t like character-driven books and this one was both but for some reason I really enjoyed it. I think I connected with the main character off the bat so I was willing to go along with her fever dream. I also do love survival books so that might have been the element that kept me hooked. Super short but very thought-provoking. Sad but had funny, hopeful moments. A pleasant surprise and I’m glad I read it!
Kennedy Ryan does it again! I was nervous to read this third book in the series after being disappointed by the second one, but it totally delivered wKennedy Ryan does it again! I was nervous to read this third book in the series after being disappointed by the second one, but it totally delivered what I was hoping and expecting it to. KR knows how to pack so much emotion into a romance and I appreciate the topics that are discussed in this one. Kenan wasn't my favorite love interest but Lotus is EVERYTHING and I loved how she stood up for herself and put Kenan in his place when she needed to - and when Kenan's daughter needed her to. Be sure to look up content warnings because there's a lot in here, but major ones are sexual assault, toxic parental relationship, substance abuse, and a suicide attempt.
I really really enjoyed this - thought-provoking, interesting, and despite generally knowing what was going on/what was going to happen the whole timeI really really enjoyed this - thought-provoking, interesting, and despite generally knowing what was going on/what was going to happen the whole time, I was impressed by the suspense and intrigue the author was able to build. Several little twists and developments in the story kept me on my toes and wanting to continue turning the pages. Would highly recommend to fans of Little Fires Everywhere and other family-centered books with complex moral issues/dilemmas at the center.
Hmmm... I'm glad I read this book, because what a topic. Absolutely a story that should be shared and known. However my reading experience wasn't the Hmmm... I'm glad I read this book, because what a topic. Absolutely a story that should be shared and known. However my reading experience wasn't the best because this book did read to me like a textbook. That might just be my own personal distaste for history class, but it prevented me from REALLY connecting to the people involved in this case on a personal level. ...more
I am once again reminded and validated in my opinion that young adult sci fi books are superior to every other genre. This book was not only intriguinI am once again reminded and validated in my opinion that young adult sci fi books are superior to every other genre. This book was not only intriguing in its premise (time travel - I am always a sucker for any spin on this trope) but also delivered such an emotional, thought-provoking, satisfying story about a Korean-Canadian teen who wants to learn more about her absent mother and also has to deal with the annoying yet fascinating (fictional) Sensory Time Warp Syndrome. I flew through this book and could have read 300 more pages. This reminded me in many ways of The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan, one of my all-time favorites and I’d highly recommend this book to fans of that one! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eBook in exchange for an honest review! I hope everyone picks it up on its publication date of Oct 31, 2023 ...more
This is one of the best nonfiction books I've read in a long time. You have to be interested in the subject matter, but if you are, no matter what sidThis is one of the best nonfiction books I've read in a long time. You have to be interested in the subject matter, but if you are, no matter what side of the issue you're on, this book provides SO many examples and so much context to the topic of gender in sports and the history of inclusion/exclusion of transgender and nonbinary athletes. It could have easily come off as textbook-y with how much history is included, but the author's passion helped keep it personal and relevant to the actual individuals involved in the situations discussed and I really enjoyed it. I'm hopeful this book will help to inform and shape inclusion within sports and the ongoing gender debate in the future. Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!...more
This one really didn't work for me. The early 1800s time period was hard for me to conceptualize and the set of circumstances surrounding these main cThis one really didn't work for me. The early 1800s time period was hard for me to conceptualize and the set of circumstances surrounding these main characters were just so sad that it was hard to root for their relationship born out of misery. Also I felt very uncomfortable reading the intimate scenes between 14-year-old girls.
This was cute, and basically a perfect mash-up between 17 Again and Freaky Friday. Overly cheesy, unrealistic, and hits you over the head with its mesThis was cute, and basically a perfect mash-up between 17 Again and Freaky Friday. Overly cheesy, unrealistic, and hits you over the head with its messaging but overall a really fun read and I'd recommend to fans of the two movies I mentioned. ...more
Overall I enjoyed this book but didn’t love it. I really liked following a law student since I don’t know anything about that world but I was missing Overall I enjoyed this book but didn’t love it. I really liked following a law student since I don’t know anything about that world but I was missing the courtroom scenes that I’ve come to know and love in legal thrillers. The mystery in this one, while well-thought out, got pretty convoluted and confusing especially when following multiple characters at multiple times in their lives. It reminded me of Wrong Place Wrong Time when it flashed back to the judge’s life leading up to this point, but didn’t satisfy me quite as much as that book did with its ending and overall writing style. I’d recommend this to fans of that book and legal thrillers in general as long as you know you won’t be getting courtroom scenes and that it’s a slow-burn complex mystery more than a thriller!
This was cute. I always love casual representation within a book, where each character’s identity is expressed but not necessarily made a big deal of,This was cute. I always love casual representation within a book, where each character’s identity is expressed but not necessarily made a big deal of, and for the most part this book did that. I thought the marching band elements were really fun and kind of felt like a twist on the more common sports romance trope. The main conflict in this book was pretty dramatic and unbelievable, but I’m come to expect that in YA coming-of-age romances so I was able to go with it. I think the political elements will probably turn some people off from reading but for me felt somewhat realistic and I liked the extra layer it added to the MC’s life. Overall would recommend especially for fans of Robin from stranger things! ...more
I am so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book - it's probably my second-favorite Stephen King that I've read so far! I loved the first I am so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book - it's probably my second-favorite Stephen King that I've read so far! I loved the first half, even though it's super slow with minimal horrific elements. Once the horror got started, it really hit close to home and I'm surprised by how many emotions of mine it brought out (but also not that surprised given the plot and me having two young kids). The ending definitely got WILD, and a little too weird for me, but it still solidified the theme and messaging of the book which I enjoyed. I also really liked the author's note that was at the beginning of the audiobook that I listened to!...more
This is my favorite Denise Williams book yet! I always love a STEM romance, and I also love the way Denise naturally includes diversity including lotsThis is my favorite Denise Williams book yet! I always love a STEM romance, and I also love the way Denise naturally includes diversity including lots of POC characters and various gender and sexual identities. The characters feel real with interesting backstories and relatable issues. I could have used even more details about the work Pearl and Cord were doing for OurCode, but maybe that’s my bias towards the coding industry causing me to ask for something most other readers don’t care about ...more
This book had a lot of what I enjoyed about the first book in the series - fun clues, riddles, and games that would be so fun to experience in real liThis book had a lot of what I enjoyed about the first book in the series - fun clues, riddles, and games that would be so fun to experience in real life. I also really enjoyed the group of characters we followed in this sequel, some from the first book and some new. The science in this book, similarly to the first one, got really confusing and hard to understand, plus the incredibly huge stakes that come into this book (literally the potential end of the world and all alternate versions of it) made it a little hard to conceptualize and actually believe/become invested in. Ultimately I enjoyed this less than the first book, probably because in a way I've read it before, but I do think it's worth reading if you really enjoyed Rabbits. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
This was a pleasant surprise for me! I enjoyed the writing style, which actually felt more like historical fiction to me than futuristic, and the way This was a pleasant surprise for me! I enjoyed the writing style, which actually felt more like historical fiction to me than futuristic, and the way it made me appreciate the nature and climate crisis elements. I'd definitely recommend it to people who are interested in climate fiction or who more typically read historical fiction but would be interested in very light science fiction plus almost magical realism. Heartbreaking, heartwarming, and I loved the family ties and characters we grew close with throughout the book.
I was really intrigued by this book to start but quickly grew bored and found the ending predictable and anti-climactic. My thoughts on this one are eI was really intrigued by this book to start but quickly grew bored and found the ending predictable and anti-climactic. My thoughts on this one are extremely similar to My Lovely Wife and For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing as well as Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone - all books where you’re kind of rooting for the killer, so clearly that trope just isn’t for me.
I'm so glad I read this, even though anthologies (especially horror) are way outside of my comfort zone. I've loved Jordan Peele's movies and was exciI'm so glad I read this, even though anthologies (especially horror) are way outside of my comfort zone. I've loved Jordan Peele's movies and was excited to see what he could do with a short story collection. I enjoyed his forward and the overall theme linking the stories together. Overall my enjoyment of the stories varied (some were 1 and 2 stars, many were 4 stars, one was 5 stars) but together they were thought-provoking, unsettling, and I'm interested in reading more from most of these authors. My favorites were Hide & Seek by P. Djeli Clark (5 stars), A Grief of the Dead by Rion Amilcar Scott (4 stars), Flicker by L.D. Lewis (4 stars), Pressure by Ezra Claytan Daniels (4 stars), and The Rider by Tananarive Due (4 stars). I'm excited for this to get into the hands of horror fans and readers more interested/experienced with anthologies! Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.
This was really interesting and I enjoyed the commentary on our Western fear/discomfort of/with death. Some parts were really difficult to read (speciThis was really interesting and I enjoyed the commentary on our Western fear/discomfort of/with death. Some parts were really difficult to read (specifically sections about children) but I think that was the point - death is inescapable and it does no good to pretend it's never going to happen to us and/or our loved ones. Exposure and education can actually be really helpful to prepare mentally as well as logistically, financially, etc. and prevent hardship and lead to more healthy grieving. I'm glad that this book led me to challenge my own discomfort and I did have some actionable takeaways which I appreciate in nonfiction books....more
I love a gamified thriller and this sounded right up my alley! I had a lot of fun reading about the different challenges this MC had to go through andI love a gamified thriller and this sounded right up my alley! I had a lot of fun reading about the different challenges this MC had to go through and the psychological questions they bring up (i.e. what would I do if given the same choice?) but unfortunately my enjoyment waned as the situation got less and less believable and ended in a relatively anticlimactic, non-satisfying way. Still glad I read it because it was a fun ride!...more
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