i love that this book is popular on tiktok even though it hasn’t even been published yet.
but there’s a reason why everyone who got the arc is obsessei love that this book is popular on tiktok even though it hasn’t even been published yet.
but there’s a reason why everyone who got the arc is obsessed with it. including me. i ate it up.
we really can’t talk about this book without talking about that it’s academic rivals to lovers! i feel like it would’ve been spicier if they kept up their rivalry for longer, making me feel like their rivalry wasn’t that strong to begin with. but all the things that he did was alice was so cute and adorable that i can just ignore the parts before.
however, one scene really irked me. (view spoiler)[that scene when they were like “i don’t really hate you” made me so angry because i’m ninety-nine percent sure that i’ve read this exact interaction in an academic rivals to lovers book before. (hide spoiler)]
i really enjoyed alice’s character. especially with the backdrop of a private school in beijing, the exploration of her identity was really interesting. also, in ya contemporary, i’m used to reading good and morally correct characters. but alice is really giving women’s wrongs. while i don’t condone EVERYTHING that she did, it was certainly interesting to read about.
as someone who also attended a private school, the commentary about class (especially in a private school setting) really resonated with me.
the only downside for me was the ending. it was resolved a little too easily and too quickly. and it was just giving “superheroes assemble and come to the rescue” (not literally, but the same vibe). and i don’t really know if it really helps the overall message… but it may be just me.
the best part of this book, to me, is the epitome of chinese culture. while i was reading, i literally felt like i was reading my childhood.
but yeah, i hope this does become a “booktok” book because it really deserves to be one.
thank you to inkyard press for sending me this gorgeous book...more
my obsession with food romances started with those wish books in elementary school (i do still read them occasionally). these are always so cute, flufmy obsession with food romances started with those wish books in elementary school (i do still read them occasionally). these are always so cute, fluffy, and make me hungry by the end. salt and sugar is no exception.
things i liked
this book was honestly so much fun. the rivalry between the families was so entertaining and fun to read about. i’ve always really enjoyed reading about small businesses, and this book really did it well! i also loved reading about the setting in Brazil, and i really need to try brazilian cuisine after reading the descriptions in this book. i literally finished it in a day because it was so addicting.
the relationship was actually so cute. not only is it enemies to lovers where they actually hate each other, they also have immaculate chemistry. the characters themselves also have individual arcs that explore relatable coming-of-age themes. honestly, we love bonding over family issues.
things i didnt like
while it’s fun, i feel like it’s definitely think it’s a tad bit too long. and at some point, the feud became more irritating than endearing. the extent of the feud, at some points, also feel a little too dramatic to the point where i started raising my eyebrows.
the moms were the low point of the book. i feel like we spent wayyy too much time reading about them acting like children. if even half of that time was given to lari and pedro.
still, overall, this was a cute and entertaining read!...more
See, I was skeptical because this was fantasy, and I’ve stayed away from fantasy for a year. But the magic literally felt like a part of everyday lifeSee, I was skeptical because this was fantasy, and I’ve stayed away from fantasy for a year. But the magic literally felt like a part of everyday life that it felt almost like a contemporary. The vibes are also amazing. And honestly, I’d read it just for the tropes — sapphic academic rivals to lovers, and theatre kids?!
This book was well written with interesting characters. I found myself relating to the academic pressure that Shay feels. And the academic-rivals-to-lovers dynamic between Ana and Shay was done really well (coming from someone who has read a ton of academic-rivals-to-lovers).
The plot of the scholarship and Mr. B (just thinking about him makes me want to scream) was so engaging that I found myself flying through the book. Maybe I’m a pessimist, but I did think the ending resolved a little too easily and a bit cringe? But since the book, overall, was amazing, I can just brush that aside.
The author did a great job of using the magic system and the social atmosphere in the book to explore some themes relating to class, coming-of-age, academics, etc.
Honestly, I just want more from this author and this world.
I’m screaming because this was so good. Grumpy-sunshine and rivals-to-lovers are literally two of my favorite tropes, and this book has both of them. I’m screaming because this was so good. Grumpy-sunshine and rivals-to-lovers are literally two of my favorite tropes, and this book has both of them. There’s also amazing themes of friendship and mental health, but the author explores them while still keeping the book lighthearted and fun.
Kavya (h) and Ian (H) have so much chemistry and romantic tension (the reason why I was screaming). I feel like they worked really well because they both just make each other better. Their banter was so amazing and always left me wanting more.
Kavya’s friend group was another highlight for me. Their dynamics and her friends felt so real with their own lives — unlike many books where the side characters are only there to be cheerleaders for the main character.
But Kavya. She’s honestly such a great character to follow. Although she isn’t perfect, I can’t help but root for her. I love how she isn’t afraid to be herself yet still is able to go through character development.
This book was just so charming. And now writing this review, I have the urge to reread it.
i have never gotten so much serotonin from a book and now i can't bring myself to reading classics anymore. RTC
~~~
his was one of my biinitial reaction
i have never gotten so much serotonin from a book and now i can't bring myself to reading classics anymore. RTC
~~~
his was one of my biggest surprises. as in i screamed after i finished this. it topped EVERY SINGLE academic rivals to lovers i’ve ever read, and yes, i’ve read a LOT of academic rivals to lovers. dare i say, it’s one of my favorite ya romances. ever.
from the first page, this book was hitting all the right places. the debate scenes literally made me feel like i was reliving the debate tournaments i went to, and the vibes are so on point.
before we talk about the romance, can we discuss the friendships? they are so well done and just as interesting as the main relationship. tj herself is also an interesting character to read about. seeing her growth was endearing to read about. i enjoyed how the author dealt with the idea of body hair as well.
charlie and tj’s banter made me smile so much, and they had so much chemistry that i couldn’t help but root for them. literally during every one of their interactions, i was screaming because of how much I love it.
honestly, i just want everyone to know how much i love and recommend this book because it’s so underrated.
thank you to penguin teen for providing me with an ARC and literally making me discover one of my favorite books ever...more
i keep trying to review books that i read months ago even though it’s really just not working out for me.
hani and ishu’s guide to fake dating is a pei keep trying to review books that i read months ago even though it’s really just not working out for me.
hani and ishu’s guide to fake dating is a perfect quick read. it’s got fake dating (undeniably oneo f the best tropes) and exploration of familial relationships. i always adore reading about familial relationships, and this book really excelled at this.
the reason why this book felt so engaging and complete to me is that hani and ishu both have interesting arcs outside of the relationship. and since i relate to both of them to some extent (overachiever people pleaser things), it just really resonated with me.
and the author really did a great job of dealing with heavier themes while still leaving the story lighthearted.
but the reason why i couldn’t give it five stars is that i just feel that the development of the relationship is a little rushed. and things in their relationship and the overall school social popularity thing felt a little unrealistic. some things, such as their character arcs, do feel a bit underdeveloped and rushed.
but overall this was so cute, and i love the representation!...more
When I saw all the hype for this book on booktok, I was apprehensive to pick it up.
You know that feeling where you ate too much of something and neveWhen I saw all the hype for this book on booktok, I was apprehensive to pick it up.
You know that feeling where you ate too much of something and never want to consume it again? That was how I felt about YA romances after consuming an abundance of those in 2020.
This book restores my faith.
I remembered that, when I first received it in the mail, I almost screamed because I saw chinese characters (like letters, not people) in the book. Well, at least until I realized that I lost all of my mandarin-reading abilities.
First of all, I think we all need to take a minute to appreciate the atmosphere. This book transported me back to 1950s San Francisco. I could literally smell and see and hear everything described in the book.
Even aside from the physical atmosphere, I was transported to the mental atmosphere of having big dreams, first love, and (our favorite) family conflicts.
The writing could only be described as tender and nostalgic, and its rawness captured the realities of teenagehood.
I enjoyed Lily’s character as well, although she wasn’t that memorable. While I read, I felt all of her emotions: from heartbreak to, well, more heartbreak. (Don’t worry, there were happy parts too)
The only critique that I remembered (yes, I have since started writing down notes for reviews so I stop forgetting things) is POVs. There is nothing that takes me out of a story more than POV switches. For this book, although they add context to Lily’s story, I dreaded the switches because I get taken out of the story.
This has been said before, but this book really stressed the importance of representation in books. I know that this widely-loved book would mean so much to members of the lgbtq+ community and asian-americans (yes, it did mean a lot to see representation of someone from my community).
Overall, pretty darn good.
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post-reading this book is actually just crack because I sat down to read for an hour and I somehow ended up finishing the whole book in two hours and neglected my homework. (sorry, but reading the twelve tables will never be as interesting as this book.)
thank you to Penguin Teen for sending me a copy!!...more
note: i’m literally writing this review MONTHS after i read it (procrastinator things)
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this was my first sabaa tahir book, and i’m definitely intenote: i’m literally writing this review MONTHS after i read it (procrastinator things)
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this was my first sabaa tahir book, and i’m definitely interested in checking out more of her books. she deals with so many difficult subjects and deals with them all wonderfully. and the title is no joke. although i probably have anger issues, it made me so angry.
however, i was mostly only interested in the storyline with Noor and Sal. which leaves the flashbacks to be dull for me. and also, in general, i just don’t really enjoy books with multiple POVs. at some points, the story itself felt kind of slow and repetitive, which causes me to lose focus. but the ending really picked up and saved the book for me.
thank you so much to penguin teen for sending me an ARC!...more
This was just what I needed after finishing a long and boring school book.
The Bennet Women is a charming and diverse retelling of Pride and Prejudice This was just what I needed after finishing a long and boring school book.
The Bennet Women is a charming and diverse retelling of Pride and Prejudice that hooked me in from the first sentence. And I'm a sucker for the prestigious institution setting, and it's so inspiring to see WOC placed in this setting.
Eden Appiah-Kubi's writing is witty and instantly drew me in. She weaves in social commentary seamlessly into the narration, which is always something I appreciate. And I was pleasantly surprised at how the pop culture references didn't annoy me as much as I'm usually annoyed by pop culture references.
Whilst the storytelling was solid, the narration was distanced from the characters and I couldn't connect to any of them. Especially for romances, this is pretty important to my rating.
All of the characters had quirks and solid backstories. Although the main relationship between Will and EJ went from enemies to lovers way too quickly, it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I did like the two as separate characters, since they both had their aspirations that weren't tied to the romance.
Also, can we stop comparing every enemies-to-lovers book to Pride and Prejudice? Rather than enhancing the story, the comparison highlighted the flaws of the book. If the book wasn't compared to P&P, I honestly don't think I would've realized how underdeveloped the characters are and how low-stakes everything felt.
Aside from the diverse representation, this is just like any other chicklit/contemporary romance I've read. And it's only been ten days since I read the book, and 90% has disappeared from my brain.
Overall, a pleasant read that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside....more
I've had a lot of bad luck with contemporary romances — oftentimes, they're too cheesy or insta-lovey. This book was exactly that. I do love the JewisI've had a lot of bad luck with contemporary romances — oftentimes, they're too cheesy or insta-lovey. This book was exactly that. I do love the Jewish representation and chronic pain.
The main issue is that this is a romance book, but I felt zero chemistry between the two characters. Their mutual hate for each other was just resolved way too quickly for my liking. It was also just such a dumb reason to not like the other person. And there's nothing I hate more than a meaningless grudge in books.
Although I usually hate books about writers, *The Matzah Ball* actually executed this trope quite well. And both characters had a decent amount of depth to them, which I enjoyed.
And even worse, for some reason, the character thought it was quirky to joke about IOF and the murder of Palestinians...
Thank you so much to the publisher for ARC!...more
I rarely cry at books, and this book made me cry four times. And did I mention this is my favorite book of 2021 (so far)?
Inspired by Tiffany McDaniel'I rarely cry at books, and this book made me cry four times. And did I mention this is my favorite book of 2021 (so far)?
Inspired by Tiffany McDaniel's real family history, *Betty* is a brilliantly crafted book with characters that feel like real people.
The writing was stunning and poetic, while equal parts accessible and a breeze to get through. McDaniel seamlessly incorporates social commentary about racism, patriarchy, and poverty — and I often had to put the book down to acknowledge the rawness that McDaniel tackles the issues with. Simply put, this book is brutal and eloquently illustrates the darkness of the world.
I want to spend an eternity watching these characters. Each character (even the side characters) was developed so well that they all felt real to me. McDaniel constantly tugged with my feelings about the characters by showing the best yet worst sides of each character. The character arc of Betty was beautiful to read about, especially as she grows stronger despite the tragedies that struck her.
Although I definitely read this for the character, the plot was engaging. The ending just destroyed me like nothing has before. I just admire Tiffany McDaniel because she was able to create such compelling events that compliments the character growth and development as well.
Bottom line: please read this book (but definitely look up triggers), and if you do read it, have tissues at hand....more
This book is not A Little Life. To Paradise won’t make you cry and mentally exhausted, but it is equally a masterpiece if you read it as its own. If yThis book is not A Little Life. To Paradise won’t make you cry and mentally exhausted, but it is equally a masterpiece if you read it as its own. If you’re a fan of Hanya Yanagihara’s writing, this may even be better than A Little Life (in my opinion). There are engaging characters, vivid descriptions, developed relationships, and relevant themes. Spanning three timelines, it’s an ambitious book; it succeeds in achieving this ambition.
TLDR (before I start gushing about how much I love this book): It’s very different from A Little Life, but it’s amazing and I can write a thousand essays (willingly) about this book because it’s written so brilliantly.
The three parts seem more like separate novellas, but there are many moments when the similarities between the three time periods are apparent. The different timelines provide realities that filled in the ambiguity of the characters’ lives if they made a different choice. The three parts are also quite coherent, as they enforce similar themes in different ways.
The first part is set in an alternate version of America where queerness is accepted. It’s a section that sets up the rest of the book (but, of course, has its own compelling plot). It’s, in my opinion, the most exciting part of the book. (But take it with a grain of salt because it’s just my opinion).
The second part skips forward 100 years to a world that focuses on the AIDS epidemic and the annexation of Hawaii. This part continued the theme of social commentary that was present in part one. The second part of this section was my favorite part of the book.
The third part is in the future, skipping forward another 100 years to 2093. This section takes up half of the book. The futuristic, dystopian world is so scary since the developments into this dystopia seem plausible. (Literally, there were many elements that were similar to our current world). The continuous influx of pandemics in this future makes the current pandemic even scarier. (Isn’t it ironic that I’m currently self-quarantining while writing this.) After being scarred by the abundance of underdeveloped dystopian novels that I read a few years ago, this book restored my hope that dystopian novels won’t all follow the same plotline. I do think that this section is a little too long, and found myself caring more about the flashbacks rather than the present.
I finished this last night, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it because I’m so amazed at how well it’s written. But while I was reading, it felt so long and impatient. Now that I’ve finished: it’s SO worth it.
thank you to Doubleday for sending this ARC!! ...more
This was my most anticipated yet most disappointed read of the year.
Although Kim Jiyoung touched on many important social commentaries about feminismThis was my most anticipated yet most disappointed read of the year.
Although Kim Jiyoung touched on many important social commentaries about feminism, that's about all the good parts of the book. Since this is ultimately a book, I went in expecting developed characters and, at least, somewhat good prose. And frankly, for someone who is a woman, there wasn't anything new that this book offered.
However, the characters were all incredibly flat. Even after spending two-three hours with the book, I had no grasp of who Kim Jiyoung is. The character of Kim Jiyoung was too detached and the book read like a summary of her life rather than a book. And although this may be an intentional choice, it made the book difficult to get into. It also (for me personally) took away from the overall message of the book because I couldn't sympathize with specifically Kim Jiyoung beyond the discrimination.
And to tie into the detachment, the writing style was so bland and I felt like I was reading an essay instead of a book. Personally, one of the most important reasons why I read is for the prose. And unfortunately, the writing style of this book was neither engaging nor pretty....more
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