Jo

Very Donny Darko esque but more cyclical and anxiety inducing. The big reveals were not as dramatic or world shattering as I expected but I didn't want to put it down and it was definitely unexpected.

This elicited such intense feelings of anxiety and confusion in me that it could've gotten a higher ranking but that ending pissed me off.

The first book I've read this year that I didn't want to put down. It was so different from anything I've read. Such a complex look at the dynamics of freedom and womanhood told through the perspective of AI. Great ending that was subtle yet dramatic. I also hope Doug burns in literary hell.

I'd definitely recommend this for lovers of psychological horror and thrillers. There are so many moments throughout the story that will have you questioning reality. The author described it to me as a mix between “Rosemary's Baby” and “Nightmare on Elm Street”. There were also heavy “They Look Like People” vibes! I think most horror fans will enjoy this – especially fans of A24 films cause it would fit perfectly in that universe.

While it is a modern setting, there was an older vibe to the story as if it could have been written in the 70s. I feel like I cant give away too much of the plot as itll be spoilers, so I'd definitely recommend going in blind to really amp up the wtf-ness of the book. The basic premise is a college student moving away from his overbearing mother who is plagued with nightmares about a woman.

Id recommend this to any readers that love introspective and psychological horror! I really enjoyed the ending and feel like most readers will enjoy it as well. Im not gonna spoil it but I do want a prequel and sequel – however that may dispel the mystery of the story.

Thank you to the author @deranged for sending me this ARC!

This has to be in my top 10 for nonfiction. Rachel Gross did such a great job going over the broad topic of vaginas.
There were so many standout parts that I really want to read further about. The differing genitals of other animals. The history and process of gender affirmation surgery. (People that think being transgender is fake should really read that section cause I guarantee you no one would do that excruciating surgery for nothing.) The fact that women basically carry their grandchildren in the womb for a hot minute. The batshit history of gynecology. The Greeks thinking sperm were tiny people that unfolded in the womb (literal tf). The atrocious surgeries and experiments performed on women throughout history, mostly without their full knowledge or consent. Removal of the clitoris on babies, especially when knowing essentially nothing about the area. Transplanting animal sexual organs onto humans and even thinking transplanting straight mens balls would heterosexualize gay men. Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsy — 3 enslaved women that were experimented on by the “Father of Gynecology” and whose suffering led to the creation of the field and are known as the “Mothers of Gynecology.” Truly, if you dont already hate evil men this book will make you wish death on dead people. Its absolutely INSANE how recent most of the history in this book occurred and how men have assumed women were only baby factories since the beginning of time. I honestly think the book couldve been 200+ pages longer. Cases like David Reimer were glossed over — even though it doesnt exactly fit the book topic it wouldve fit great with the chapters on sexual organs/growth hormones. I also hate John Money and felt he wasn`t aggressively damned enough in the short section about him.
This was just an enthralling read where I would have to stop reading just to tell anyone around me about the line I just read.

The plot itself was interesting, but the formatting weighed it down. I usually love multiple POVs, short chapters, and diary entries — but it just led to a choppy, disjointed read. The last 100 pages did save this for me and make quite a convincing case to finish the series.

Poetry like this is so important. There's never enough ways to read about self-love and the journey to it. This collection does such a wonderful job at capturing the feelings that come with mental health struggles like anxiety and depression.
Honestly, it's so hard to put into words how meaningful this was to read. Just seeing thoughts you've had during some of your darkest moments reflected back at you but with a hopeful undertone is just breathtaking. You hear so many times “it gets better” that you start to turn it out but when you read them in what feels like your own voice that is what's truly comforting and why these verses are so powerful.
I highlighted so many lines that I'm definitely going to be getting a physical copy to reread during hard times.

Thanks to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for sending me this arc!
Thanks to Shelby Leigh for sharing her words and experiences!

I've been wanting to read about a female killer for a while and wow did I get it with this one. The narrator, Maeve, is absolutely insane and a perfectly terrible concoction of all the wicked literature she loves. The reader gets to see the horrific inner-workings of her mind and a glimpse of her backstory. This novel is filled with pure depravity, absolute brutality, and extreme debauchery. This is an ode to those who adore the works of Bret Easton Ellis, George Bataille, and Chuck Palahniuk. I'm not sure if the grotesque imagery will ever leave my mind.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely beautiful story

I was so close to dnfing this cause it wasn't what I was expecting, but it was so much better than if it had went the route I expected. The multiple POVs and multiple timelines intensified the twists and really enhanced the interconnectedness of the story.

This was just such an incredible story that tackled so many different themes and issues that I can't even narrow them down. There was just so much depth to this tale and it had a lot to say. Looking back, it felt like a love letter to life and all those looking for its meaning.

This is the 2nd book in the Supernatural Singles series by April Asher. I haven't read the 1st book, Not the Witch You Wed, but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. There is a lot of mention of the main characters from the 1st one so I'll definitely be checking out that one soon.
It's absolutely insane how spicy this read was and, more importantly, it was female-focused spice. There was also a lot of romance, action, and fantasy involved in the story as well. This is a perfect blend for romcom and fantasy readers. There's also a little dictionary in the back for readers newer to the genre.
The plot is centered around witch Rose and half-demon Damian who become engaged in a friends with benefits arrangement. Now reading that you may think to expect that spice but I'm telling you it surpasses your expectations. It's really enjoyable to see their relationship form and meet their friends and family along the way. I also loved reading about the animals they worked with and their storylines were so cute. This is a very character heavy book and they was such a likable ensemble that it was such a joy reading their stories. There was also a lot of comedy, hence the romcom genre, and there were many moments I audibly laughed. I NEED to read a book about Olive finding love now.
Some of the supernatural dialogue was cringey at first but it didn't take long to get used to. The characters' lovability made up for any qualms I had. The ending was also a little rushed but I feel like that's a typical complaint for any romance book.
I definitely recommend this one, especially for romcom lovers looking to read something slightly different within the genre. There's also representation with the leading lady, Rose, who is plus-sized and tall, which is definitely nice to see in romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an arc in exchange for a review.

It's so hard to express how good this story was. It's definitely now one of my favorite romance novels. I read it almost entirely in one sitting cause I just had to know how it ended. Usually books in this genre follow the same model but I was honestly on the edge of my seat the whole time.
It was such a great take on the big tropes by having both friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers. There was also a lot of comedic relief throughout the novel, which solidified it as an amazing romcom like all the nostalgic movies it referenced. It mentioned How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days a few times and it really reminded me of it — not in the plot but in vibe and the joy it brought me.
I'm just absolutely in love with the story between Lana and Seth. There was just so much intensity and longing throughout the novel — it felt like I was living it! There's a major quote in the story that just took my breath away and it hits you like a ton of bricks when it happens.
There was also so much beyond this story besides romance. It was hugely about finding yourself and really highlighted the importance of therapy and communication. Lana's story is really touching and she's one of the best leading ladies I've seen.
Highly, highly recommend this one!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. And thanks to Falon Ballard for sharing this story with the world.

This is for rom-com lovers that YEARN for the slow burn and love the friends-to-lovers trope. It had all the warm and cozy feelings of your favorite romance movies.
Sophie Sullivan does such a great job at making her characters multidimensional, full-fledged people that you can see yourself in. Some moments felt like I was actually enjoying the holidays and friend gatherings with them.
I love novels like this that go beyond the general plot and touch on important topics. This especially goes for the way the author showed how the characters' past traumas completely distorted their thinking and impeded their present lives. Everyone can relate to this in some form and it was just great to see the characters learning that they can change their habits and negative thinking.
A major aspect of this novel was community and found family. There was so much love written within the pages that made me want to jump into this cozy world.
This is the 3rd book in the Jansen Brothers series by Sophie Sullivan. I haven't read the previous ones so you can definitely read this as a stand-alone. Past characters are heavily mentioned through the story so readers of the previous books get updated on their favorite characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun read! It felt like I was watching a movie with its fast pace and intense atmosphere. I did have some struggle following along at first and there was one sex scene that threw me off but it still was worth the read. 3/5

The other novella included, “The Masterpiece”, was even better! I'm not big on psychological thrillers but I throughly enjoyed this one and it proved to be much more. 5/5

This was such a fun read with some surprisingly brute imagery that really left an impact on the reader. Absolutely loved how everything tied together and came full circle.

It really is a timeless read and has so many modern concepts. The friendship and humor within the story were so unexpected and refreshing. The last quarter made the read lose stars for me since it just dragged on and became repetitive despite being the climax.

The first half was interesting and gave some insight into the life of a librarian, but the second half was repetitive and seemed to lend to the modern stereotypes of the field. I was hoping for this to be much more informative than it was.

I read this to find out what the main character was and waited the whole time just to never find out. It was an okay read but there was just nothing really special about it.

Wonderful addition to the unwind series! It introduced some new characters and gave you backgrounds to so many old ones, even very minor ones. It answered a lot of remaining questions from the last book. The stories about the parts pirates were by far the best.

I really don't know how I feel about this book after finishing it. It kept my interest but the ending was disappointing and no justice is ever served. It felt like you were supposed to root for Marion at some moments or at least feel for her. I guess the author wanted the reader to have that experience of sympathizing for Marion but also having a bad feeling about wanting her life to turn around cause she truly didn't deserve it.

Wish there wasn't a happy ending for the bad characters. The only good part was Judith becoming haggard cause that was the only kind of justice in this story's world.

Of course a great Grady Hendrix read! It wasn't nearly as scary as I was expecting but it still made for a great story.

I originally had it at 5 stars but after comparing it to his other works it doesn't stand out as much.

No book should have this many POVs. Had to keep a character list it was just so unnecessary. It was overall a boring read and the twist really wasn't that impactful.

Just as good as Love Hypothesis!!!!! It followed the same plot outline so you pretty much know what to expect, which isn't bad for a romcom. It was a super sweet and funny read. The main characters and side characters were super likable.

Really appreciate the novel as a whole and the history of it, but it was just so much work to read this one. There was also inconsistencies between the prose that threw me off, as well as with the ordering of the events that happened.
Also, I went into the novel expecting it to be entirely in the devil's perspective and I his presence was almost nonexistent in the last quarter.

DNF: What God Hath Wrought?, Doll Hands, To Forget and Be Forgotten, & Florrie
I just couldn't get into these stories beyond the first few pages. I do suggest those that like “Tender is the Flesh” read the Doll Hands story.

4-5: Pig Thing, The Ancestors, & The Age of Entitlement

The rest of the stories were average content and writing for horror shorts. I would highly suggest The Ancestors story, it completely made the book worth reading.