The story of two writer friends: Athena Liu who is famous and acclaimed, and June Hayward who is flopping badly with her debut. When Athena u 4 stars
The story of two writer friends: Athena Liu who is famous and acclaimed, and June Hayward who is flopping badly with her debut. When Athena unexpectedly and tragically dies right in front of June, June steals Athena’s work in progress, rewrites it as her own, and publishes under Juniper Song. All told from June’s first person perspective, we follow her down many disturbing rabbit holes.
Right off the bat this book is utterly compelling, while at the same time incredibly disturbing. Reading this while in the mind of June Hayward was unsettling. Even though I could predict most of what happened, I was so drawn in by how the story was told I couldn’t put the book down. Definitely a lot of topics were jam packed into this book like plagiarism, racism, authors in readers spaces, the publishing industry and some of its failures and more. I think this is one of the few books where you can absolutely hate a main character but also want to know what they’re doing and what happens next.
Incredibly well written and thought provoking, and all it did was make me think that I’ve been missing out on this author and need to read more by her....more
What was done to Britney Spears is criminal and I am so glad she is alive and well and with us today. I thought Spears did a great job of presenting fWhat was done to Britney Spears is criminal and I am so glad she is alive and well and with us today. I thought Spears did a great job of presenting facts and explaining her feelings without ever seeming hateful or having a vendetta. Even if you aren't a fan of her music, this book is a must read as it portrays an accurate account of conservancy abuse and a woman's fight to regain her freedom....more
When a shy school librarian, Alexis, attempts to have a one night stand with a hot guy, Logan, she met at a bar, a freak lightning strike h 3.5 stars
When a shy school librarian, Alexis, attempts to have a one night stand with a hot guy, Logan, she met at a bar, a freak lightning strike hits their hotel before they can do the deed. The hot guy turns out to be in the race for the next state governor, the two enter a fake dating agreement.
I think I would have liked this more if it wasn't so far fetched. Yes, it's fiction. And yes, it's a romance. But I found a lot of the aspects of both of the characters professions to be wildly unbelievable. Since when can public schools afford two librarians? They can't even afford one most are run by paraprofessionals. And why would anyone care about who a gubernatorial candidate is dating? Enough for a rando to take a picture of who they're dating and it to go viral? I don't know.
I would have enjoyed this book a lot more with the wee bit if angst we got and the fake dating trope. But lots of things just didn't make sense to me. Three and a half stars because I mostly enjoyed despite all these things. ...more
A comprehensive look at the history of Black horror films and modern horror cinema. We learn about the different stereotypes that roles in films and sA comprehensive look at the history of Black horror films and modern horror cinema. We learn about the different stereotypes that roles in films and shows put black actors/characters into as well as themes tropes and traits.
I very much enjoyed this book, listening was a bit odd because there were several points at which titles of films and dates are listed for quite a long time. I also am giving this book an extra star because the authors shaded Kenya Moore in the book and as a Real Housewives fan I was dying laughing while listening....more
Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors, but I couldn't stomach reading this book anymore. I realize it's horror, but the descriptionDNF at 51%
Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors, but I couldn't stomach reading this book anymore. I realize it's horror, but the descriptions of body gore were too much for me to listen to. I kept hoping it would be minimal but I can't listen to (view spoiler)[ bones popping out of limbs and jawbones hanging off. (hide spoiler)]
That and small nitpicky thing that did take me out of the story, the audiobook narrator who did this book also narrates the Finlay Donovan series and does the same exact voices so I honestly was getting confused (not the fault of the author, just a weird rando "me" problem). ...more
I will admit, of the five Austen books I've read Mansfield Park is my least favorite. But I really enjoyed this YA queer retelling a lot. In 4 stars!
I will admit, of the five Austen books I've read Mansfield Park is my least favorite. But I really enjoyed this YA queer retelling a lot. In Manslaughter Park, Fanny Price hopes to solve the mystery of the person who murdered her Uncle. With help from her friends and some unexpected characters, Fanny finds herself challenged as well as uncovering many truths.
Fanny Price was never my favorite classic character, but I really enjoyed the interpretation of her in this book. Plus I thought a queer retelling fit quite well as Edmund never really stood out to be as a great hero. I know a lot of people were upset by this book (as I saw from all the reviews) but I feel if you go into this book with an open mind and know it will be different (like the first two books) I think it would be a fun read....more
Sadie is a portrait artist, following in the footsteps of her late mother. After some goods news of Sadie being a finalist in a portrait con 4 stars!
Sadie is a portrait artist, following in the footsteps of her late mother. After some goods news of Sadie being a finalist in a portrait contest, Sadie's life is derailed by a surprise medical incident. From this incident, Sadie develops what is described as potentially temporary face blindness, and she no longer recognizes the people around her.
Katherine Center is an author I can count on to deliver a heartwarming story. Her books are romance but can be categorized more as "women's fiction", and this book was very much about Sadie's journey to moving past her preconceptions and learning to face life as it comes at her. I loved listening along as Sadie navigated her world in a new way and the different ways she tried solving problems when faced with new experiences. Despite sounding heavy, this book was very humorous and fun and I enjoyed it until the very end....more
My toxic trait is every Ruth Ware book I read I rate three stars, but then I still pick up more books by Ruth Ware knowing I will rate them three starMy toxic trait is every Ruth Ware book I read I rate three stars, but then I still pick up more books by Ruth Ware knowing I will rate them three stars.
I picked up Zero Days because it's getting closer to spooky season and I was expecting what we usually get from Ware: a dark, moody, atmospheric, mystery novel. That was my mistake because Zero Day is not any of those things. Instead of Ware's usual, this book is more of a follow along as someone runs from the cops thriller type (but it wasn't very thrilling sadly).
When Jack's hacker husband is murdered, the police think that Jack hired a hit on him. Once she realizes she's been framed, Jack runs from the police in an effort to find evidence she is innocent. I think the pacing was off a bit in this book, very slow start but then it picked up in the middle to end. I also think the added aspect of an injury was not needed and instead made me really stressed while listening to this book instead of enjoying it more.
Overall, if you're a big fan of Ware's books this is a nice change of pace for her, I personally prefer her darker moody mysteries....more
I'm not doing a typical review for this book I am just going to list pros and cons
Pros: -Interesting historical facts about Mexican immigrant 2 stars
I'm not doing a typical review for this book I am just going to list pros and cons
Pros: -Interesting historical facts about Mexican immigrants to England during the war, France invading Mexico, etc... -Positive depictions of Hispanic characters -Truly beautiful/stunning/gorgeous book cover
Cons: -Literally zero plot until about 60-70% of the way into the book -Lackluster romance with profoundly unsexy spicy parts -Little to no character development, they were all just oddly fully formed and not much growth happened -Rushed ending
I wanted to like this one more than I did, I *might* be willing to read a book about one of the other sisters but I am not sure at this point....more
Ethan Lippmann is sent by his grandfather to pose undercover at the bakery Best Babka in order to steal their secret recipe for pumpkin spic 4 stars!
Ethan Lippmann is sent by his grandfather to pose undercover at the bakery Best Babka in order to steal their secret recipe for pumpkin spice babka. There he meets Avital, who despite her stern personality Ethan is attracted to almost right away. While working there, Ethan begins to become friends with the staff, and starting to become something even more with Avital. But with her chronic pelvic pain, Avital is just trying to get through every day and Ethan doesn't want to betray her.
This is one of those books where every criticism I hear I think it's totally valid and agree with but at the same time, I really enjoyed this book. The author fit quite a few "teaching moments" into the book and they were fairly obvious, but a lot of them I enjoyed. To be fair, I am not Jewish and don't know as much about the faith as I wish but I felt I learned a lot from the book and found it all very interesting. I also think a lot of people will relate to Avital's experience with chronic pain in some way. Not everyone's experience is the same, but it's also nice to see yourself represented in literature.
Without getting too spoilery, one of my favorite aspects of this book was how the characters reacted to each other. When things would happen, when things are revealed throughout the story. I won't say much but I appreciated how the author wrote the character reactions and it was so refreshing to read in a romance novel. I would have liked some more character development of some characters (they tended to be caricatures instead of fleshed out), and I think some of the plot points needed to be weeded down. But overall this was such a fun read and I'm glad I overcame my misgivings (book with an ugly cover) and decided to read it anyway....more
A second chance romance between two former pop stars Cal and Kathleen. Years ago a scandal ruined Kathleen's career and now ten years later C3.5 stars
A second chance romance between two former pop stars Cal and Kathleen. Years ago a scandal ruined Kathleen's career and now ten years later Cal is directing her in the Broadway play that will revive her career.
I enjoyed this book a lot, I really liked the character of Kathleen. Where this book was weak for me was the flashbacks and jumps in time. They really hindered the story and made listening to this book jarring, instead of enhancing it. I really like Elissa Sussman and would happy read more books by her, I just didn't LOVE love this one....more
I read a review on here that said this book is mostly just character thoughts with little to no plot and I would absolutely agree. I had trouble conneI read a review on here that said this book is mostly just character thoughts with little to no plot and I would absolutely agree. I had trouble connecting because it was a lot of telling and not showing. Plus all the things I loved most about it were skimmed over more than I'd like, mostly Levi and his siblings and Georgie actually figuring out what she wants. Bonus points for the cute dog....more
This is the kind of cozy mystery book I absolutely adore.
Vera Wong runs a tea shop in Chinatown, San Francisco. Her son has grown up and r 4.5 stars!
This is the kind of cozy mystery book I absolutely adore.
Vera Wong runs a tea shop in Chinatown, San Francisco. Her son has grown up and rarely calls or visits and her husband passed away. With a dwindling customer base, Vera doesn't have much to occupy her time. Until one morning she walks into her tea shop and discovers a dead body. Vera doesn't like the way the police are investigating, she begins her own investigation and integrates herself into the daily life of her suspects.
I adored this book so much, there's just something really cute about a pushy older woman getting her way to the surprise of everyone around them. The side characters were all interesting in their own ways and well developed, I never got bored of any one of their personal stories or perspectives. One of the best parts were all the descriptions of the food Vera made, everything sounded delicious and I was beyond hungry listening to the audiobook. I was riveted until the end, with a slightly rough beginning to the story. But overall I can see myself recommending this to many people, it's a comfort read....more
I'll read anything Riley Sager writes, and while lately he's given us some duds, this one wasn't.
Set in the 80's, The Only One Left follows 4 stars!
I'll read anything Riley Sager writes, and while lately he's given us some duds, this one wasn't.
Set in the 80's, The Only One Left follows Kit McDeere, a young woman who works as a caregiver. After being accused of assisting in the death of a former patient (her mother) Kit has become the town outcast despite never having been arrested for the crime. The only job she's able to get is working for Lenora Hope, a woman thought to have murdered her entire family back in 1929. Lenora cannot speak or move her body except for her left arm, and via typewriter, Lenora begins to tell Kit everything.
After hating The House Across the Lake, I was skeptical going into this book. But as I said before I'll read anything Sager writes, good or bad and luckily this one was good. I thought it was paced very well and we got all the twists and turns we come to expect from Sager's work. Some of them I guessed ahead of time, others I didn't. Regardless I still loved following along with the story. It was nice to get a heroine by this author that wasn't, well, stupid or delusional. Kit was smart, she wasn't going to be gaslit by anyone, and she wanted to work. She was there to do her job and she was going to be good at it, which I admired because she tried to make the best out of a bad situation.
One of my favorite thing about the story was how the house paralleled the story. I can't say much more without spoilers but I thought that was a really nice touch. Setting had a really big impact on the story and the tone of the book. This book keeps you guessing until the very end and while some things didn't quite tie together as much as I'd like, most of it did and it was a very satisfying ending. If you haven't read anything by Riley Sager, this is a good place to start. Of course my all time favorite by him is Home Before Dark so you can start there as well....more
After quitting her job as a chef, Simone goes to law school after consulting a magic 8 ball for her future. Once at law school, 2.5 stars rounded up
After quitting her job as a chef, Simone goes to law school after consulting a magic 8 ball for her future. Once at law school, she's out of her depth not knowing the way things work. She makes friends with Silas, who she really likes but who is a teacher's pet and undermines her in class. Is Silas or law school the right choice for her?
So I gave this a 2.5-3 stars because for the most part, I liked it. It read a lot like fan fiction that hadn't been edited though, and there were lots of small conflicts introduced that were resolved within the next few pages. I don't understand why a grown woman doesn't check her email? Or expects to show up to law school with no prep and just be fine? But overall I enjoyed the book and made it to the end via audiobook....more
After her brother is abducted, Bianca will do anything to rescue him, including running from her own family. When her father sends his head o 4 stars
After her brother is abducted, Bianca will do anything to rescue him, including running from her own family. When her father sends his head of security, Ian, after her. Forced to work together to find her brother’s captors, Bianca and Ian race to save him before anyone else can hurt him, or the two of them.
I love Mihalik’s Starlight’s Shadow series, and I read the first book in this series Polaris Rising but wasn’t super impressed. I got comments on my review of it that this second book was better and had good disability rep so I gave it a chance and I agree with them. This second book was better, I really liked both of the characters but Biana and her story were my favorite. It’s definitely an action packed book, but my favorite parts were the quiet ones, the smaller moments that had more impact....more
It's funny, because I had zero intention of reading this book because I hate the cover and I ended up really enjoying it!
Fiancee Farce is ab 4 stars!
It's funny, because I had zero intention of reading this book because I hate the cover and I ended up really enjoying it!
Fiancee Farce is about Tansy and Gemma, who enter an engagement of convenience when Tansy needs to save her bookstore and Gemma needs a wife to inherit her families company. But as they embark on their fake relationship, the lines get blurred and both want something more.
Definitely one of the better fake dating books I've ever read, I thought both Tansy and Gemma were developed really well and despite some predictable plot points, this book was really good. I picked it up to match a bingo square for Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo 2023 and I am glad I did because I discovered a great new to me author. Don't judge a book by its cover, it may be better than you expected....more
The second book in the Rachel Krall series, this installment follows podcast host Rachel as she is called to Florida to help the FBI with a 4 stars!
The second book in the Rachel Krall series, this installment follows podcast host Rachel as she is called to Florida to help the FBI with a missing persons case. An influencer, Madison has disappeared after visiting an inmate in prison, not convicted of murder, but a suspect in several cases. But the more Rachel and the FBI look into Madison the less they seem to know.
I was excited and apprehensive to read this book, The Night Swim is one of my favorite mystery novels and any book after has a tough act to follow. That plus lower starred arc reviews left me worried, but I shouldn't have because I enjoyed this book very much. It's very different from The Night Swim, but not in a bad way. Instead of just investigating for journalism, Rachel is joining law enforcement on the case and has more access to information than she normally would have. I thought this was a solid mystery and a very interesting book, my only complaint was there was too much influencer content.
I received an ALC through libro.fm as a part of their librarian ALC program. This did not affect my rating or review of this book ...more
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