A Chinese heist centered around three women best friends and their turbulent romantic and familial woes. Firstly, I thought the audiobook narrator didA Chinese heist centered around three women best friends and their turbulent romantic and familial woes. Firstly, I thought the audiobook narrator did a great job of bringing all the characters to life and captivating me. The actual writing was easy to fall into and you’re already tangled up in all the drama that ensues. I feel like the first 50% of the book (which is kind of too much) is setting up the characters, their dynamics with one another, and the hardships they’re facing. Once you hit the halfway point, the pacing immediately picks up and you finally get into the meat of the plot! I loved how all three women had romantic side plots, I got invested in each of their stories. The central theme is definitely about sticking up for oneself and being true about your own desires in life rather than going with what other people (especially family) want for you. I also liked how strong the friendships were between our three main characters, really focusing in on how important it is to have those female friendships during hardship.
The pacing felt both sluggish and speedy during different times of the book, but overall I was engaged the whole time. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper audio for the audiobook arc in exchange for my honest opinion!...more
Wow, Off the Books was so much more than I expected in the best ways. I’d categorize this as general fiction with a subtle hint of romance that focuseWow, Off the Books was so much more than I expected in the best ways. I’d categorize this as general fiction with a subtle hint of romance that focuses on familial and platonic relationships during an emotionally charged roadtrip (my FAVORITE very specific genre!).
Mei learning more about her mother and accepting her complex family history felt so special, like a refreshing adult version of the typical coming of age story. This book also discusses the brutality and abuse of Chinese treatment towards Uyghur people - in an educational tone that doesn’t take you out of the story. What an important narrative.
Thanks a million to Henry Holt & Co and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion. What a great read!...more
Oh my GOD Ann Liang I’m obsessed with you - AND I’m obsessed with Julian.
I Hope This Doesn’t Find You is a tug-at-your-heartstrings YA academic rivalsOh my GOD Ann Liang I’m obsessed with you - AND I’m obsessed with Julian.
I Hope This Doesn’t Find You is a tug-at-your-heartstrings YA academic rivals. Sadie doesn’t have it in her to say No to other people, so she’s constantly drowning under her people-pleasing tendencies. She airs out her grievances to classmates in teachers in her email drafts, until one day her drafts get sent out TO THE ENTIRE SCHOOL… oh Sadie girl I don’t wanna be you right now
What follows is the aftermath of Sadie picking her life back up, especially her rivalry with her co-captain of the school Julian. I LOVED how much tension there was and how much was left unsaid **but shown through action.** There was lots of love in this book that was SHOWN to us as readers rather than just told, which breathed so much life and realness into this rivals to lovers novel. I loved how neither Sadie or Julian’s characters were compromised to further the plot, we got to see their true selves and how their dynamic didn’t have to do a complete 180 for them to see the good in one another. This is easily one of my favorite YA books and my favorite Ann Liang book so far of hers.
My reasoning behind the 4 star rating (rather than a 5 star) is that some of the side characters were one-dimensional to a fault. It came off as tropey and, at times, predictable. But regardless, I absolutely loved how the story played out between our two main characters and I’m a huge fan of Ann Liang. This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024, so thanks so much to Scholastic Press and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion!!...more
Oh my GOD!! Swiped has me guessing until the very last chapter. The last 10% of the book I read at lightning speed because I needed to know how this wOh my GOD!! Swiped has me guessing until the very last chapter. The last 10% of the book I read at lightning speed because I needed to know how this was going to end. I was so invested in the story and seeing who was behind the murders and the connection (LOL) to our main character. I was NOT disappointed at the reveal. I think this book accomplished what it set out to do, as it was a fast paced and quick witted read. Gwen is an easy character to root for and I got roped in immediately once the murders started. I think the ending was a little unhinged but in a surprisingly good way! I’m happy I read this - plus, isn’t the cover stunning?? Thanks so much to NetGalley and Gallery books for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion. ...more
Wedding People is a breath of fresh air. Phoebe goes to a fancy hotel with plans to end her life - she’s tired and can no longer feel passion for her Wedding People is a breath of fresh air. Phoebe goes to a fancy hotel with plans to end her life - she’s tired and can no longer feel passion for her adjunct English professor work, her husband Matt had an affair and has divorced her, and her cat Harry has passed away. She is ready to end it all.
But instead, Phoebe gets tangled up in the week-long wedding that’s being held at the hotel. All the wedding people - bride, groom, bridesmaids, the guests - are such vibrant characters. I loved seeing Phoebe get roped into getting to know these people on a deeper level, and I loved seeing Phoebe become known to others as well. It was a deep look into the hardships of being human in a world that can be depressing, turbulent, confusing, beautiful, awful, hilarious, and (even though Phoebe doesn’t like this word!) fun.
I loved seeing Phoebe and all the other characters, Lila and Gary especially, get to know themselves better and reach deeper into themselves about what they truly want in life. The dialogue is so natural between them all and the quick wit doesn’t go unnoticed - It’s a brilliant idea that leaves you with food for thought. I’d highly recommend this book!! Thanks so much to NetGalley and Henry Holt for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion. This comes out 7/30/24 and I know a lot of people will love it....more
How It Works Out is truly unlike any other book I’ve read before - it was polarizing, refreshing, and I see myself easily picking this back up as a reHow It Works Out is truly unlike any other book I’ve read before - it was polarizing, refreshing, and I see myself easily picking this back up as a reread in 2024!
Each chapter is a different (but somehow they all feel cohesive and interconnected) alternate reality in which we’re introduced to Myriam and Allison. Sometimes they’re human, sometimes they’re not, sometimes they’re in love, and sometimes they’re doing something that’s shaped like love but feels like torture. It was so interesting learning about the little quirks and details of these two characters as they transcend their first reality and their personalities of the previous chapter. It was.. weird, to say the least. I think Chapter 2 is probably the most shocking and visceral (CW cannibalism) and once you’re sucked into the book, you’ll be confused but you won’t want to put it down. I reread the last chapter TWICE at like 3 in the morning and I still feel like I didn’t want this book to end. I didn’t fall in love with the characters but I didn’t want to say goodbye to them, either.
I don’t think I grasped everything this book has to offer my first time reading this, which is why I see this as an easy reread. You see these characters’ essence morph into everything and nothing and anything in this debut novel, and I’ll be looking forward to whatever Lacroix releases next. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion!...more
I am officially a Naina Kumar fan!!! This debut is a sweet fake engagement story with so much heart and culture blended into it! We’re following MeghnI am officially a Naina Kumar fan!!! This debut is a sweet fake engagement story with so much heart and culture blended into it! We’re following Meghna, an English and theatre teacher who aches for more, and Karthik, a man who doesn’t WANT to ache for anything more. Watching their story play out was PRECIOUS - their pining, the fake engagement mandatory-but-not-really practice kisses, their acceptance and understanding of one another’s personalities and quirks! I love how the familial relationships of both main characters was integral to the story. We got so much HEART weaved into the book because the characters had so much depth behind them that they became so much more real than your typical romance characters.
The author did a phenomenal job of breathing the cultural of both families’ into this novel, and it’s so easy to tell there was a lot of nuance in it! This is coming off of just finishing The True Love Experience by Christina Lauren, in which they had an Asian female main character for what it seems like no rhyme or reason - they just slapped on a Chinese last name with little to no nuance to the culture lol. Say You’ll Be Mine felt like the EXACT opposite in the best way!!! There was so much intention behind Meghna and Karthik.
I think what stood out to me is that the two main characters made each other stronger. Inevitably, they changed each others’ lives and made them more passionate and headstrong about aspects outside of their romantic endeavors.
I’m looking forward to whatever Kumar releases next!! Thanks to NetGalley and Dell for the arc in exchange for my honest review....more
The Space Between Here and Now was a delight. I’m a sucker for books that play with time, and this does exactly that - Aimee Roh is a Korean-Canadian The Space Between Here and Now was a delight. I’m a sucker for books that play with time, and this does exactly that - Aimee Roh is a Korean-Canadian 17 year old who has a condition that physically shoots her back into her past when she’s triggered by certain nostalgic smells. Her father is very traditionally Korean and doesn’t talk about Aimee’s mom much, who left them when she was younger. She’s grappling with her identity, unsure of what her future holds for her while Aimee’s past has such a strong grip on her present. I’m so happy that I read this - there was so much heart in it, especially dedicated to Aimee and her dad’s relationship.
I also adored all the side characters - I really appreciated that Aimee’s best friend Nikita wasn’t swept to the wayside while Aimee is battling her own identity, family, and self understanding! So many YA books fall into the “forgotten best friend” pit, it’s so old so I loved that The Space Between Here and Now avoided that. Junho was also a very sweet, easy-to-love love interest for Aimee! Their budding romance was a side plot, which I’m more than fine with, but I feel like he was his own person with his own ambitions who really had the spirit to support Aimee. Aimee’s father was a pivotal character, and I loved how their resolution was handled - it actually made me cry (LOL I am a sucker for parental/daughter relationships) - and what the author was trying to say about immigrant parents and their heart but sometimes lack of communication.
Overall, this book had a lot of hearty sentiments about self identity/acceptance and familial bonds. I’ll be looking forward to reading more of Sarah Suk. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s for the arc in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I’m… I almost don’t know what to say? This book was thought provoking but the writing itself was so idyllic and simple so that you’re not even processI’m… I almost don’t know what to say? This book was thought provoking but the writing itself was so idyllic and simple so that you’re not even processing it, you’re just soaking the storytelling in, and then BOOM the book is over and you’re just left with these thoughts.
Keegan’s prose is so captivating in its simplicity. She is prompt and elegant. “So Late in the Day” and “Antarctica” were great, I didn’t love the second one “The Long and Painful Death” but I liked the linking of all three for thematic reasons and can see how they fall under the same umbrella.
I feel like this short story collection addressed the societal problem of misogyny head on without any excuse or delay. There’s some tension built up at the beginning of each story (there are three within this book) that slowly ebbs up on you - there’s a gracefulness in Keegan’s directness.
Thank you much to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC in exchange for my honest option. ...more
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