Okay oh my god I cried through like the first 30% maybe. Two years ago (3 DAYS AGO) I lost my first dog and listen if you hAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Okay oh my god I cried through like the first 30% maybe. Two years ago (3 DAYS AGO) I lost my first dog and listen if you have ever put down an animal/dog that you loved this book is going to be extremely triggering. However, this resonated with me so much I was a literal mess wow. What Is a Dog is about Chloe Shaw losing her family dog Booker, causing her to look back in a linear timeline of each dog that was in her life that she loved and lost. It touches on a dogs love, losing a dog, grief, and getting a new dog. So many of her words just resonated with my heart.
I got a new dog after my dog died about 8 months later and it talks about being ready or not for getting a new dog and I feel like no one really discuses that? I REALLY appreciated this because when I went through this a lot of people thought I was so dramatic when I was going through my grief. Chloe Shaw, were were you when I needed you then?
My only issue with this was that I was expecting wholesome dog stories but it touched on sex, sexual assault, motherhood, birth, and marriage that it kind of made it into a different book in the middle. I felt like Shaw was going off on a tangent about her life. I understand this is a memoir but I don’t know if it should have been marketed focusing on dogs. At the same time, these aspect of her life are extremely important and I’m glad she had an outlet to share her story. It always goes back to her dogs and her love for them. Okay I wouldn’t say this was my issue but I think for me personally, it went from extremely relatable to not relatable at all which is fine so I don’t know how to explain what I’m trying to say. Overall, I really did enjoy this book and I felt less alone in my grief all these years later.
“There’s no imagining a life or a me without her.”
Thanks very much to Netgalley and to the publisher for the advanced copy of this book....more
This was so good omg I'm going to buy a copy for my shelf. One of the best books I've read this year!This was so good omg I'm going to buy a copy for my shelf. One of the best books I've read this year!...more
UPDATE 1/27/21: I wish I could read this again for the first time :((
Wow. I haven't read a book that's compulsory readable in SO long. I won't lie, I UPDATE 1/27/21: I wish I could read this again for the first time :((
Wow. I haven't read a book that's compulsory readable in SO long. I won't lie, I had my doubts because YA horror is usually not that great but THIS. This is. It was genuinely creepy and it was SO hard to put this down when real life got in the way. I can't really write a proper review for this because I realized I am incapable of reviewing books I loved but.. this is such a good book. The format is super engaging. I can totally see it be adapted into a TV series or movie. it's best not reading the synopsis or reading many reviews either. Speaking of movies, this kind of reminded me of Silent Hill if I'm remembering the movie correctly.
The only issue I have with the book is that some of it is a little confusing but the story is so unique that I can let that pass. I think there was a lot going on but that's what made it so interesting. I'm giving this a strong 4.5 and rounding because I'm generous and I loved this. I would like to know what Kate Alice Marshall's thought process was with this and wish I could ask her my questions SO hopefully we get another book. I will be reading her other novels in the meantime.
Thank you to my dear friend Jenny for the recommendation! I think I may buy a copy for my bookshelf....more
Akwaeke Emezi is an AMAZING writer - the prose is so emotionally riveting and heart breaking. I finished this novel a few days ago and still think aboAkwaeke Emezi is an AMAZING writer - the prose is so emotionally riveting and heart breaking. I finished this novel a few days ago and still think about it. I don’t honestly believe I can do justice in a review for a book like this. I will try my best though!
The story follows Vivek Oji and his family and friends who love him and try to be there for him through his inner turmoil. The depiction of grief and sorrow were done so well, I could literally feel my heart breaking as I was reading through this book. “It’s raining inside me,” he said a wave of darkness took over.”
Based off the title, yes there is death, but I believe this goes so much more beyond that. Themes that are tackled are not only about LGBTQ but also family, love, loss, grief, and finding yourself. I wish we had more of Vivek’s point of view because we got gold such as this:
“And every day it was difficult, walking around and knowing that people saw me one way, knowing that they were wrong, so completely wrong, that the real me was invisible to them. It didn’t even exist to them. So: If nobody sees you, are you still there?”
I want to give Vivek a hug. Go into this blind if you can, don’t read too many reviews or even the synopsis, I think it’s best that way! The death of Vivek Oji has become one of my favorite books of the year and will have a place in my bookshelf. This is book I would definitely re-read and also recommend to others. Thank you so much to Netgalley and to the publisher for this arc.
Kara stumbles upon a portal in her uncles museum that leads to a terrifying world that seems to be full of other portals. These portals all lead into Kara stumbles upon a portal in her uncles museum that leads to a terrifying world that seems to be full of other portals. These portals all lead into different worlds and universes. That premise alone is what got me to read this book - I hear alternate reality or parallel universe and I’M IN. This book gave me strong Stranger Things vibes like the similar world of the upside down. There was some quirky humor which I did enjoy but at certain times I felt that it tried a little bit too hard. I still enjoyed the humor as Kara also used it as a coping mechanism for dealing with the portal to hell.
Certain parts were extremely creepy, I think this would actually make a pretty cool movie because of the imagery and descriptions. I wanted more from the other worlds, I felt like that could’ve been explored more so I was a little disappointed with that. I also think that the location of a creepy museum is terribly convenient of a location. Other than that, this is a fun book just in time for spooky season.
Thanks to netgalley and to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy!...more
If I see a dog on the cover, I immediately request it. I don't even read the summary or look at any possible reviews - I just request it and hope for If I see a dog on the cover, I immediately request it. I don't even read the summary or look at any possible reviews - I just request it and hope for the best. Walks With Sam is about walks that David W. Berner takes with his labradoodle Sam and the adventures that await them. I had a golden doodle once so that was a wonderful surprise to me. Sam reminded me so much of my own dog and it made me happy. I loved that Berner often talks to his dog and wonder what her thoughts are about certain things because I do the same thing, as I'm sure most people with dogs do. Throughout the walks, there are random thoughts and musings about life such as growing into adulthood, signs of aging, death, and that change is inevitable. I really loved this one and it made me feel both happy and sad.
I'm so glad I was approved for You Had Me At Hola because let me just say I LOVED this one. I went into this novel with no expectations, just that theI'm so glad I was approved for You Had Me At Hola because let me just say I LOVED this one. I went into this novel with no expectations, just that the title was cute and the cover was beautiful. Jasmine was such a great character. Very strong but also allowed herself to be vulnerable and genuine. She exudes girl power and I loved it. Ashton - I went back and forth with him. He was a little too dramatic but that's okay, I ended up liking him a lot. I also enjoyed their awkwardness that began their relationship and then eventually leads into a lot of steaminess. I also thought that the scenes where they're behind the set, shooting the show was super fun. I will say that I'm not that into romances so if you love romance novels, definitely read this one. I'm off to go check out whatever else Alexis Daria has written!
Thanks so much to Netgalley and to the publisher for the advanced copy!...more
The story takes place in just one day but it never felt rushed or slow - the pacing was perfect. ImportThe Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert was SO GOOD.
The story takes place in just one day but it never felt rushed or slow - the pacing was perfect. Important topics are brought up such as police brutality, social justice, racism, sexism, and voting during elections. I loved that Colbert was able to bring light to these issues while also having a fun and cute romance in it. The side characters were funny as well and I liked them all - which is pretty rare. I enjoyed this one and finished it in one day. I'm definitely going to check out Colbert's other books!
Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for the advanced copy!...more
I went into Jubilee blind with the only knowledge of the cover being gorgeous. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up loving this book.
TheI went into Jubilee blind with the only knowledge of the cover being gorgeous. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up loving this book.
The story is about Bianca being a devoted mother to her beautiful baby girl Jubilee. The only thing is that Jubilee is actually a doll. (I went into this not reading the synopsis so this is not a spoiler however I was actually surprised by this reveal in the first chapter). It’s told in alternating chapters of Bianca’s past, “Before Jubilee” and “During Jubilee”. We learn about Bianca’s traumatic past and the path that led her to Jubilee. The during Jubilee chapters are current where Bianca meets Joshua and they fall in love. I’m not going to give anymore on the story but I thought the story was absolutely heart breaking but beautiful. Jubilee is a story of mental illness, love, loss, strength, and hope. I was completely invested from the very beginning to the end. Bianca’s pain is just so raw and it felt absolutely real. My heart hurt for her and this book actually made me cry.
Now the only thing that stopped me from giving it 5 stars was that the writing in the beginning didn’t have the greatest flow. It felt disjointed and a little arbitrary. For example, I felt that it would hone in one a specific detail and go off on a tangent about it. There was a lot of telling rather than showing when I just wanted to hear about the story. However towards the middle, I’m not sure if I just got used to it or if the writing improved but I found the writing beautiful and poetic. This book actually had me in tears at one point. My rating is a strong 4.5 and I plan on buying this book for my collection. I will be thinking about Bianca's story for a very long time to come.
Trigger warnings: abuse, suicide, miscarriages
Thanks so much to Netgalley and to Blackstone publishing for advanced copy of this book, it is now available!...more
I read this in one sitting (actually I took a break to eat dinner) and my thought process while reading this was thinking that this would be a 3 star,I read this in one sitting (actually I took a break to eat dinner) and my thought process while reading this was thinking that this would be a 3 star, then it went up to 4 star, and then it shot up to 5 stars.
Natalie is one of the most relatable characters in a long time - maybe to even have ever existed. Her insecurities, anxieties, and just her general personality/interests really resonated with me because I felt like she was me at point or another. Her thoughts were thoughts that I had at 18 and sometimes even now! I saw her in me and related to almost everything she was saying. I was instantly transported to my high school from college transition where the biggest worries I had were college, boys, and all the other normal things that come with growing up. On top of that, I thought she was funny and found myself laughing at her jokes throughout the book. I don't normally read contemporary romances and have recently begun again this year and am SO glad I decided to pick this one up. I had my expectations pretty low and was pleasantly surprised by this one!
The hype is real on this one. Super cute and semi-realistic. The plot was interesting outside of the romance too so that was a huge plus for me. I thoThe hype is real on this one. Super cute and semi-realistic. The plot was interesting outside of the romance too so that was a huge plus for me. I thought this would be an okay read but I loved it. HOWEVER the ending was so cheesy - TOO cheesy but this still earned a place on my favorites shelf....more
Finished in one day! Loved this, loved the writing, the story, the two sisters. I felt so much emotion just from the lyrical writing. I loved it all. Finished in one day! Loved this, loved the writing, the story, the two sisters. I felt so much emotion just from the lyrical writing. I loved it all. FINALLY after reading a bunch of crappy books I have a nice 5 star rating ...more
Wow, I actually enjoyed this book so much. I thought I was going to hit a slump prior before starting Nothing to See Here but I was pulled right out! Wow, I actually enjoyed this book so much. I thought I was going to hit a slump prior before starting Nothing to See Here but I was pulled right out! I loved the main character and of course the twins - the dynamics of their relationship and watching it grow. The book itself was funny and I laughed, I was entertained and just had fun reading this which I think is what we all need right now. I also read and listened to the audio book because Marine Ireland's voice was just perfect for it!...more
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