I started to follow Illia Ponomarenko, a Ukrainian journalist, on social media right after the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of UkraineI started to follow Illia Ponomarenko, a Ukrainian journalist, on social media right after the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022. Since then, he has been a reliable news source about the war. So, of course, I had to read his memoir about the battle of Kyiv, I Will Show You How It Was.
The memoir has two distinct parts. The first part is months and weeks leading up to the invasion, where Poomarenko describes people's mood, the government's actions, and preparations before the war. He also gives an important historical context to Ukrainian identity and Russian imperialism. The second part of the book describes the battle of Kyiv. How so many Ukrainian soldiers and ordinary people rose to defend their country when the Russian horde invaded. The Russian government and Western policymakers believed Kyiv would fall in less than a week. And yet, Ukrainian people proved everyone wrong. This part of the book was hard to read because it describes the brutality of the Russian army and the devastation that they brought to Ukrainian soil.
I highlighted many passages and quotes while reading the book. I found the writing compelling and engaging. Despite the heavy subject matter, the book is peppered with jokes and dark/gallows humor, which Ukrainians have become known for. I Will Show You How It Was is a must-read for people who want to learn more about Ukraine and the unjust and brutal war that Putin/Russia unleashed on the Ukrainian people. I highly recommend it.
*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss...more
Workplace romance Rivals-to-lovers Angsty slow-burn Found family NYC setting
I fell in love with Julie Soto's writing when I read Forget Me Not last year.Workplace romance Rivals-to-lovers Angsty slow-burn Found family NYC setting
I fell in love with Julie Soto's writing when I read Forget Me Not last year. I was very excited about her new book, Not Another Love Song. In this book, two rival musicians, Xander Thorn and Gwen Jackson, compete for the coveted role of the First Chair of an orchestra while battling their chemistry and growing feelings for each other. I loved Xander and Gwen's slow-burn, rivals-to-lovers romance. They have a sizzling chemistry, the book is steamy, with one particular scene involving a cello is super hot.
However, Not Another Love Song is not just a steamy romance, the book touches on some heavy topics, and Gwen and Xander's relationship has a lot of depth. I loved Gwen's relationship with her music mentor, Mabel, and her best friend, Jacob. And I was excited about the guest appearances by Ama and Elliot, the couple from Forget Me Not.
Not Another Love Song is one of my favorite reads of 2024, and I cannot wait to read another book by Julie Soto.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley...more
*Jewish rep *WW2/Warsaw Ghetto Uprising *Survival against all odds *Forbidden Love *Multiple timelines *Femme Fatale *Revenge
The Goddess of Warsaw is an ex*Jewish rep *WW2/Warsaw Ghetto Uprising *Survival against all odds *Forbidden Love *Multiple timelines *Femme Fatale *Revenge
The Goddess of Warsaw is an exceptional historical fiction about one of the most horrifying events in recent history that many people are forgetting already or, even worse, denying. It's a poignant and compelling story of survival, featuring an incredible and complex heroine who had to make impossible choices to keep her loved ones and herself alive. And after surviving the Holocaust, she continued making dangerous choices to enact revenge on those who tormented and killed her people.
The Goddess of Warsaw was a difficult read at times. Seeing the parallels between Europe of 1930-1940s and the present time, with the explosion of anti-semitism and the dehumanization of the Jewish people that is so rampant right now, caused me considerable distress. (Lisa Barr also addresses these parallels in her author's note). Regardless, or maybe because of that, The Goddess of Warsaw is a must-read for historical fiction fans. I am glad I had a chance to read this book. It's going straight on my "favorites" shelf.
I will leave you with my favorite quote: "Survival is about secrets, about extraordinary measures taken to stay alive. If you survived, it means others did not. The trauma of a second chance at life, a second act, is at once miraculous and unendurable."
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One Last Shot is everything I love in an epic love story: yearning, angst, second-chance romance (my favorite trope), breathtaking locale (Italy), andOne Last Shot is everything I love in an epic love story: yearning, angst, second-chance romance (my favorite trope), breathtaking locale (Italy), and, most importantly, a swoon-worthy love interest. Once I started reading the book, I was engrossed and didn't want to put it down. If I had to change one thing about the story, it would be easing off on the lack of communication between Emerson and Theo. Otherwise, the romance is pretty perfect! I cannot wait to read more books from Betty Cayouette. I hope she has more love stories up her sleeve.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley...more
Highlights: Persuasion retelling Second chance romance Small town romance Slow burn Longing and angst
I read Jane & Edward by Melodie Edwards last year, andHighlights: Persuasion retelling Second chance romance Small town romance Slow burn Longing and angst
I read Jane & Edward by Melodie Edwards last year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So I was excited to get a chance to read her new book, Once Persuaded, Twice Shy. I haven't read the original, but it's on my TBR. Second-chance romance is my favorite trope. And it's executed exquisitely in Once Persuaded, Twice Shy. It's full of angst, longing, and unresolved feelings. I don't always enjoy small-town romance, but I loved the picturesque setting of Niagra-on-the-Lake, where Anne Elliot is the executive director of the theater company and the town's counselor. Her past crushes back into her life when Ben Wentworth appears in town after his aunt and uncle buy a property in Niagra-on-the-Lake. I loved Anne and Ben's romance and how their relationship grew and evolved. I loved the longing and the angst. They had to do some work on themselves before they could be together. Several entertaining secondary characters made me laugh, especially the town's wild goose, who was quite the troublemaker.
I couldn't put down Once Persuaded, Twice Shy, and read it in two days. I highly recommend the book to Jane Austen fans and those who enjoy second-chance or small-town romance.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley...more
I first heard about a daring naval operation, the Cherbourg Project, last year while vacationing in Normandy with my sister and brother-in-law. My broI first heard about a daring naval operation, the Cherbourg Project, last year while vacationing in Normandy with my sister and brother-in-law. My brother-in-law told us about the project when we saw the signs for Cherbourg. The story immediately sparked my interest. When I discovered that a historical fiction book was being published about it, I immediately added it to my TBR.
The Boy with the Star Tattoo tells three intertwined stories inspired by Jewish and French history. In 1942-1945 occupied France, we follow a French woman, Claudette, who helps Jewish father and son hide from the Nazis. In 1946, we follow Uzi, a young Jewish man from Eretz Israel, who arrives in France to help rescue hidden and displaced Jewish orphans to bring them to Israel/British-mandated Palestine. This rescue program is known as Youth Alliya. And in 1969, we follow Sharon, a young Israeli woman recruited to assist in the Cherbourg Project in Normandy. While working on the project, she meets a naval officer, Danny, an orphan who came to Israel from France with the Youth Alliya program.
The Boy with the Star Tattoo is an incredibly well-written and well-researched book about lesser-known post-WW2 historical events. I enjoyed reading about the Cherbourg Project because it is what drew me in first. But I was moved by other themes in the book. One of the themes is the collective trauma that Jewish people experienced during and after the Holocaust. I understood it in the abstract but hadn't thought about it deeply before. The Boy with the Star Tattoo changed that. It hammered it into my psyche. In Uzi, Sharon, and Danny, Talia Carner embodies the Jewish nation and how the collective trauma drove Jewish people to build a country where Jews would be safe.
Currently, we are seeing an unprecedented rise in antisemitism that echoes 1930-1940. It's important, now more than ever, to read Jewish stories and listen to Jewish voices. The Boy with the Star Tattoo is a must-read for readers who want to learn more about post-WW2 history and the history of Israel....more
I thoroughly enjoyed Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord. I couldn't put the book down and read it in one day. It has everything I love in a h4.5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord. I couldn't put the book down and read it in one day. It has everything I love in a historical mystery: a plucky heroine, a captivating mystery, quirky secondary characters, and a swoon-worthy romantic interest. I cannot wait to read more of Lady Petra's adventures. I highly recommend Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord to all historical mystery readers.
*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss...more
The Memory Keeper of Kyiv takes place in 1930's Ukraine during Holodomor, a man-made famine caused by Stalin's Soviet government, which killed millionThe Memory Keeper of Kyiv takes place in 1930's Ukraine during Holodomor, a man-made famine caused by Stalin's Soviet government, which killed millions of Ukrainians. The communist government was forcibly confiscating harvests from the Ukrainian farmers and forcing them to join collective farms. Those who resisted were either killed or sent to labor camps in Siberia.
Growing up in Soviet and post-Soviet Ukraine, I did not learn about the Holodomor at school. Even though the Soviet Union was on the brink of collapse when I started school, we were still mostly taught Soviet propaganda, not the actual history. I only learned about Holodomor and other Soviet crimes and atrocities years later.
Learning about historical events through historical fiction is my favorite way of learning. I wanted to read The Memory Keeper of Kyiv for a long time, but I knew the book would devastate me emotionally. I finally got the courage to read it. The Memory Keeper of Kyiv is a dual-timeline novel. It follows Katya, a Ukrainian young woman during the 1930s, and Cassie, Katya's granddaughter, in 2004 Illinois. When a newly widowed Cassie moves in with her grandmother, she finds Katya's old journal. By spending more time with her grandmother and reading the journal, Cassie starts to uncover long-buried family secrets and learn about her Ukrainian roots.
The Memory Keeper of Kyiv is an inspiring story of perseverance and survival in the face of unimaginable loss and hardship. It's a beautifully written and well-researched book, respectful of Ukrainian culture and Ukrainian people. The Memory Keeper of Kyiv is a must-read for historical fiction readers interested in the history of Ukraine and the Soviet Union....more
Jane Austen's retelling Friends-to-lovers Age gap NYC setting
I haven't read the original novel, but I watched two Emma movies and liked them Highlights:
Jane Austen's retelling Friends-to-lovers Age gap NYC setting
I haven't read the original novel, but I watched two Emma movies and liked them both. So when I learned about this book and saw all the great reviews, I immediately wanted to read it. I am happy to say the book didn't disappoint. It is a pretty accurate retelling of the beloved classic with a modern twist. I loved all the characters, I loved the NYC setting, and I adored Emma and Knightley's relationship. There was plenty of angst and entertaining banter that kept me flipping pages. I thoroughly enjoyed Emma of the 83rd Street and cannot recommend it enough for romance readers and Jane Austen fans.
*Free book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
I had high hopes for Fall of Ruin and Wrath because I love fantasy romance and because I enjoyed other books by JLA. I am happy to say that this book I had high hopes for Fall of Ruin and Wrath because I love fantasy romance and because I enjoyed other books by JLA. I am happy to say that this book lived up to all my expectations. Fall of Ruin and Wrath is an adult romantasy with plenty of steam, great bunter, explosive chemistry, and an interesting world-building. I enjoyed this book even more than From Blood and Ash, and it's now my new favorite fantasy romance. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review...more
All My Rage is a coming-of-age and tender first love story from the one and only Sabaa Tahir, one of the best YA contemporary authors, in my opinion. All My Rage is a coming-of-age and tender first love story from the one and only Sabaa Tahir, one of the best YA contemporary authors, in my opinion. The book follows two Pakistani Muslim teenagers, best friends Sal and Noor, growing up in California's Mojave desert. This book is profound and beautifully written. It touches on many heavy topics: alcoholism, drug, the death of a loved one, child abuse, casual, and no so casual racism. It's a moving story that was sometimes hard to read, but I loved every page. All My Rage is my first 5-star read of 2023, and I cannot recommend it enough. Just make sure to check trigger warnings before picking it up....more
I love fantasy romance and was excited to read Fourth Wing as soon as it came out. This book has everything I love about this genre: fascinating worldI love fantasy romance and was excited to read Fourth Wing as soon as it came out. This book has everything I love about this genre: fascinating worldbuilding with interesting politics, action, adventure, dragons, and of course, a swoony enemies-to-lovers romance. I adored our main heroine, Violet, and fell in love with my new book boyfriend, Xaden. The book ended on a jaw-dropping cliffhanger, and I cannot wait to read the next book! I am glad we only have to wait six months until the next installment. Fourth Wing is going straight on my "favorites" shelf. I cannot recommend this book enough to fantasy and romance fans....more
In Long Gone, detective Annalisa Vega and her partner (and an ex-husband) Nick Carelli investigate the murder of a highly respected Chicago detective In Long Gone, detective Annalisa Vega and her partner (and an ex-husband) Nick Carelli investigate the murder of a highly respected Chicago detective Leo Hammond. Leo was killed in his own home while sleeping. His wife, who slept next to him, was unharmed. During their investigation, they realize that Leo may not have been a good cop, as his reputation suggests. And somebody definitely doesn't want Annalisa and Nick digging into Hammond's old cases and his past.
Long Gone is the second book in the series. I enjoyed the first book, Gone for Good, immensely. The second book is just as good as the first. I didn't want to put it down. Joanna Schaffhausen is one of the best mystery/thriller writers I've read in a while, and her books are underrated, in my opinion. I highly recommend all her books to mystery and suspense readers.
*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss...more
Highlights: women in STEM, nemeses-to-lovers, secret identities, pining, workplace romance, miscommunication trope.
A brilliant neuroscientist Dr. BeeHighlights: women in STEM, nemeses-to-lovers, secret identities, pining, workplace romance, miscommunication trope.
A brilliant neuroscientist Dr. Bee Königwasser gets an offer to lead a prestigious neuro-engineering Nasa project, designing high-tech helmets for astronauts. But her excitement about the project is greatly diminished when she finds out that she will have to work with none other than Levi Ward, her nemesis from their grad-school days. The project's success can make Bee's career, and she has no choice but to be professional and work with he nemesis. While working with Levi, she realizes that maybe she misjudged him and his past behavior.
I liked Bee and Levi very much. I enjoyed watching their relationship change from animosity to friendship to love. Their relationship began with miscommunication, which is not my favorite trope, but it worked in this book. Leo is very closed-off in the beginning, but once he opens up to Bee, she starts to see him in a different light.
Like the previous book, Love on the Brain addresses topics of sexism, misogyny, and toxicity in STEM/academia. I really appreciate that Ali Hazelwood discusses these themes in her book. If you want to learn about trigger warnings, the author has a good guide on her website. After adoring The Love Hypothesis last year, I was looking forward to reading Love one Brain. I am happy to say it didn't disappoint! If you are looking for a feminist, thought-provoking, swoony romance, read Love on the Brain!
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley...more
In Our Last Days in Barcelona we revisit the Perez sisters we first met in Next Year in Havana. This latest book follows the dutiful and quiet older sIn Our Last Days in Barcelona we revisit the Perez sisters we first met in Next Year in Havana. This latest book follows the dutiful and quiet older sister, Isabel. When Isabel's younger sister Beatriz disappears in Barcelona, Isabel travels to Spain to find her. In Spain, she not only learns of a shocking family secret, but she also starts to re-examine her life and the choices she made to keep her family safe. The book has three POVs: Isabel's, her mother Alicia's, and Alicia's cousin, Rosa's.
I am a big fan of Chanel Cleeton's books and Our Days in Barcelona didn't disappoint. I loved revisiting the Perez sisters, I loved Barcelona setting and I loved the romance. Cleeton writes the best romantic heroes. I highly recommend this book to historical fiction fans!
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley...more
How to Fake It in Hollywood is one of my favorite books this year. It's an angsty and emotional romance with a fake dating trope that touches on themeHow to Fake It in Hollywood is one of my favorite books this year. It's an angsty and emotional romance with a fake dating trope that touches on themes of fame, addiction, and grief. With fascinating characters, scorching hot chemistry between them, and engaging writing, How to Fake It in Hollywood satisfied all my romance cravings! I highly recommend it!
TW: alcohol abuse, death of a loved one.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley...more
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