Gabriela
Even though I couldn't relate to these characters, I liked reading this story a lot. Kit and Theo are fully developed as characters individually, making my desire to root for them stronger. This is basically a second chance romance where these two childhood friends reconnect after a falling out. Now, was this falling out completely centered around miscommunication? Yes. But did it diminish my enjoyment of seeing them come back together? Absolutely not.
I read this as an audiobook and really enjoyed both narrators on top of the small sections of music tha accompanied each of the pairings. I can't comment on how good the pronunciation is of the French and Italian words, but the Spanish was quite good. I'll admit when someone goes too hard on the pronunciation of foreign words when speaking English, I do cringe a little bit, but that could just be a me thing. Nonetheless, I am so happy I read this as an audiobook! I had already preordered the physical book, but the audiobook is a great way to go for this story.
Theo and Kit definitely tasted a lot of wine, food, and local residents during this tour, making reading this book an experience that you feel with more than one sense. There were a lot of sex scenes, but they are all affective at being hot. I loved seeing these two bi icons whore around Europe while falling back in love with each other! It was funny, sexy, and understatedly sweet!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy of this audiobook.
It all came together beautifully in the end, not from a plot perspective (there is none), but in the construction of this character. This book's narrator describes people who have been close to her throughout her life and have had an impact. In her descriptions, you get a glimpse of her worldview, her values, what she admires and what she fears. These descriptions also give way to reflections about their differences.
Here's a few of my favorite examples:
“I found her way of turning on and off both admirable and disconcerting. It insinuated that she had that thing known as ‘full control', which came across as mature, but there was an inhuman bent to it, too, an inhuman temperature.”
“She was an ocean of feelings, with more gradients and nuances than she could handle, as if the full cast of Greek gods and all the emotions and states they represented had been crammed in behind her eyelids.”
This is a character study in relation to people close to her. It's understated in its pursuit of the knowledge of the self. The last chapter really made it feel like all the fragments of this person came together and crystallized into a shape that made more sense to me as a reader. No plot, just vibes.
3.5 - I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was a low-stakes romance with a bi awakening after 30 and after a divorce so it was already doing something different than most romance books. The setting of an adult summer camp gives it the same lightweight and carefree vibe that I get from YA romances; however, this was written with an adult audience in mind, not because of it's spice, as there is not a lot of that, but rather because of its themes and the stages in life these adults find themselves in. I also appreciated the exploration of the relationship between siblings (I am a sucker for sister storylines)
Now, for the reasons this didn't get a higher rating... I didn't love the “vision” aspect of this story. I know it's fiction and it doesn't have to be realistic, but it did take me out of the story. My other issue is how quickly the main couple got together, especially considering that one of them didn't even know she was queer. I needed a few more chapters between the realization and the declaration of love. Once that happened, all the tension dissolved and it then focused on other subplots I would've rather explored towards the middle of the book.
That being said, I think it's a very fun sapphic read for the summertime if you want something to feel like a hug and not give you many strong emotions. Not a must-read, but a nice read.
3.5 Let's start with the good things. This couple had great chemistry and the dual povs were great. The way this book approached infertility and chronic pain felt nuanced and compelling, addressing the physical and psychological impacts of them. The side characters felt a bit half-baked, but I know the rest of the series will expand on them.
The reason this was held back from a higher rating is because of specific issues with each main character. Kristen's refusal to just communicate with Josh about why they couldn't be together was infuriating and confusing; it's not like I can't sympathize with the situation, but it felt so out of character for her that it mostly annoyed me. Not to mention the issue being revealed earlier on, when they were just friends, could've prevented him from falling for her (which at the time is what she wanted!).
With Josh, I am conflicted. When we're in Kristen's POV, I like him and I'm rooting for him. When we would switch to his POV, I mostly just got the ick. I'm so sorry, but we spent too many chapters hearing his inner and outer monologue about how she's a unicorn, a cool girl, a “not like other girls” girl; Honestly, props to Abby because I feel like she captured how a lot of men think and act when they're down bad, I just hated being a part of it for so many chapters.
Long story short, I was rooting for them, but this conflict felt avoidable. I am not against the miscommunication trope per se, but wow sometimes it really wants to make you shake the characters and slap some sense into them. This doesn't feel like a must-read series (as opposed to her newer series which is 5 stars all around), but if I can borrow the other books from the library, maybe I will.
4.5 - My favorite of the series, so far! This was the perfect mix of sweet & spicy, revisiting the charming characters of Lovelight Farms. I started this today thinking “hm, I'll add something lighter to my current reads so I can switch back and forth,” but ended up being sucked into this story and these characters. My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. These two are sweet as honey, but that does not reflect how hot some of these scenes were! I just love them. And now I'm even more excited for Charlie and Nova's book!
3.5 - You will not be disappointed by the plot and these characters. Soledad and Judah's relationship was full of chemistry, yearning, and very steamy scenes. I thought the portrayal and discussions about autism were handled very well. Of course, I love that Soledad is a fellow Puerto Rican; nothing regarding that raised any red flags of inaccuracy or making her simply a stereotype. So on that front, it has my stamp of approval.
However, because of Soledad's healing journey and influencer vibe, the book's tone ended up resembling a self-help book. The phrases used messaging felt, at times, trite. I did listen to this in audiobook form, so the voice acting could've influenced my perception of the writing's tone. At the end of the day, my experience with this book was filled with many high highs and some moments that made me roll my eyes.
Nonetheless, if any more books come out in this series, I will still borrow them from the library!
Out today, the third book in The Songs of Penelope Series.
Oh, how I loved this series! Each narrated by a different goddess, this is the book narrated by Athena, goddess of wisdom and war. Her personality and values makes for a very strong narrative voice. Because a goddess is the narrator, we get both her 1st person perspective, but an all-seeing 3rd person perspective, giving you insights into everyone around Ithaca.
This is the culmination of a story of how men consistently underestimate women's power. Penelope, Queen of Ithaca, has had to get creative defending her land all while taking advantage of those who dismiss her. I will not spoil this book or this series, but it was so fun to read. This book was a lot heavier on the battle scenes, but with a good mix of political scheming and interpersonal conflict. The ending did not disappoint.
The whole series for me is a 4 star. I liked it a lot and do recommend it, especially if you're already a fan of Greek mythology. I appreciate Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of this book. I will be getting the physical copy soon to complete my set.
Oh I this book was so good! I couldn't put it down. I felt like these things were happening to me instead of looking at a scene of these things happening, which is an extraordinary feat considering it's told from a dual 3rd person perspective.
This wasn't a slow burn, but the yearning was still so heartfelt and evocative! And finally, a contemporary hate to love arc that makes sense. I highly recommend this one.
3.5 - This was a quick, fun romcom full of sweet moments and a touch of drama (both family and health-related). The story brings together two writers to create a romcom, but of course, one of them (the famous screenwriter whom she idolizes) hates the genre.
Characters
Emma: She's the classic eldest daughter who feels she has to handle everything alone (I can relate). Her writing career has been put on hold due to her family commitments, but she exudes a quiet confidence as she heads to LA. Emma is direct and anxious, which makes for an interesting mix. I really liked her.
Charlie: My first thought about him was, “this man has the emotional intelligence of a potato.” While I still think this, the way he asks clarifying questions about feelings and social interactions gives off a slight neurodiverse vibe. Maybe he's just low on emotional intelligence and a bit of a toxic masculinity type. Either way, he's the typical grumpy guy who turns out to be a sweetheart, despite sometimes doing thoughtless things.
Overall, I enjoyed the writing style and narration. The scenes were vividly described without being over the top. The book is told from Emma's first-person perspective. It's a slow burn with no explicit content, and delightfully cheesy in the best way!
Two young queer artists go on a roadtrip to make cool art!
Housemates brings you along in this journey towards identity, creativity, reinvention, and acceptance. Leah and Bernie, our main characters, are queer artists figuring out what they want their lives and art to look like. This story focuses heavily on the creative processes of both our writer, Leah, and our photographer, Bernie, as they figure out how to translate the world into art that means something and produces change. It's also successful in its exploration of queer friendships and relationships (as well as the messiness that can often come from them!).
One of the strongest topic this novel discusses is how fatness changes the experience of being a human both internally and externally. Some of the most powerful chapters explored how Leah felt about being perceived, interacting with the world around her, how limiting and dehumanizing it often felt. I really identified with a lot of it; the exploration of this theme provided the space and language to process a lot of my own emotions about it.
The only reason I couldn't give this book a five-star rating is because the narrator's story and our main characters' story didn't feel like it came together in any meaningful way (or at least it wasn't clear to me). Of course, there are parallels between their stories, but I was hoping it was building up to something emotional or impactful. It didn't. More often than not, it took me out of the story.
Another thing to note is that this is written without the use of quotation marks. I don't mind that at all, especially when the text is still clear in terms of who's speaking and what's being said. However, I know some people have strong opinions about it, so it's best to know it in advance.
I think this book is a great addition to your Pride Month TBR! Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for providing a review copy of this book.
Oh this book was so much fun and it hit me quite hard. This contemporary romance story hits that spot that I seek where it provides depth of characters (main and side) while also exploring very difficult topics. In this book, Dawson does a wonderful job at portraying the cycles of abuse a person can get stuck in when it's all they've known. From parents homophobia, to emotionally abusive partners and bosses, this book shows how it can inhibit a person from knowing they deserve better from their families, friends, partners, and jobs.
This story is told form a 3rd person perspective, which scared me a bit because sometimes that makes it harder to connect with the inner world of the main character (in my experience). However, I think it does a great job at giving you the insight of how Charlotte felt throughout the book. On the other hand, I kept wishing I could get more insights on how Reese (mmc) or Jackie (bff) were feeling; even though it was 3rd person, it gave me the same vibes a 1st person pov gives me where all the insight comes from the main character and their perceptions of others. It still worked and conveyed the emotions it needed to, but I do wonder if fully committing to 1st person or exploring more of what a 3rd person pov could do for side characters would've benefit this story.
In summary, this one is for the queer kids with parent or partner-related trauma who don't know how to ask for help or they feel like they are so behind their peers. This book was fun, emotional, sexy, and sweet.
Side note: I LOVE that it didn't include an epilogue. The ending was perfect! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this review copy.
This is my favorite kind of memoir, ones that allow me to see the world from a completely different perspective. This was a compelling and research-based account of the author's acceptance journey before and after her diagnosis. I often think about that TED Talk about the power of one story and how it limits so much of our understanding of other human beings. This was very well written, provided an interesting story, and had insights that every person could benefit from. Reading can be an act of compassion and empathy; this book was no exception.
3.5. It wasn't bad, just not very memorable. I found myself not caring too much about what happened with the story. I feel like part of the problem was this “love triangle” because I didn't know who to get invested in. I tried both, but ended up caring about neither. And the main character just wasn't as compelling as I wanted her to be. We also spent so much time talking about her writing and book, but we know next to nothing about this book so I found myself not caring too much about the writers or the lovers aspect of this story.
I'm glad I read it, but I will never think about this book after this review.
4.5 - I had an absolute blast diving into this book! Natalie Sue's writing skillfully breathes life into characters with remarkable depth. She effortlessly blends outrageous and humorous workplace conflicts with poignant explorations of complex themes. From grappling with grief and parental expectations to shedding light on issues like child neglect and domestic abuse, this book exceeded all my expectations. And let's not forget the utterly charming romance subplot that had me swooning!
What really stood out to me was how the book delved into the idea that the cutthroat nature of work and the relentless demands of capitalism often blind us to the humanity of our coworkers. It's a poignant commentary on how this system fosters competition at the expense of genuine connection and community.
I was so engrossed in this story that I even brought it along to a concert! It consumed my thoughts and sparked countless discussions with friends. Relatable and engaging, it's a must-read for anyone navigating the corporate world, especially those who struggle to find meaning in the daily grind imposed by society.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to this review copy.
Oh this was so fun! The writing was beautifully descriptive and the plot was intriguing. This is a light fantasy book, which is just how I like them. The setting switches from Buenos Aires and Cairo, bringing both cities to life. The characters were charming and had enough depth to make them interesting. There's action, mythology, romance, and adventure. I will definitely be reading the sequel, especially after that cliff hanger!
3.5 - This was a wonderful ode to art and the ways pursuing our dreams often requires blind faith, sacrifice, and pushing through uncertainty. I enjoyed the exploration of his relationships, both romantic and friendly. At times, I found it difficult to connect with the character because his actions and dialogues felt so quintessentially “manly,” but it all came through nicely at the end. I felt like the story lingered a bit too long. in the flashback to his two past relationships; it was necessary context, but it went on for longer than I felt necessary. The art style was nice and clear; I felt like the illustrations always conveyed emotions and personality in a convincing and consistent way. The 2000s technology and overall vibe felt nostalgic, but helped portray the limitations of artists' exposure and networking options back then. If I were more of an artsy gal, this would've hit harder for me. But as a fan of art and as a person who has experienced love and heartbreak, I got a lot out of it, too.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy through BookSirens.
3.5 - Reviewing short story collections can be tricky due to the varying reactions each story can provoke. Takeout Sushi presents a range of slice-of-life tales that delve into amusing, relatable, and intriguing aspects of human behavior. The standout stories are both shocking and humorous, although some lack compelling points or plots.
Most narratives are set in Japan, offering perspectives from both natives and visitors. The writing style is direct yet engaging, effectively bringing scenes to life.
Each of the 17 stories is accompanied by an illustration, enhancing the reading experience. The cover art particularly caught my eye and drew me to the collection. Overall, I enjoyed my time with these stories and am grateful for the opportunity to review them, courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.
3.5 - If anyone could've made me a fan of short story collections, I would've thought it would be the master herself. I enjoyed some of these stories, but overall I did not enjoy my reading experience. It took me nearly 20 days to read such a short book, which is very unusual for me. Again, it's not bad and they're beautifully written, but perhaps my standards were too high being such a big fan of the other stories I've read from her.
4.5 - This book is so beautifully written, but unconventional in its execution of a love story. Both characters are neurodivergent (mood disorder and ASD), which makes the texture of their conversations, the exploration of their feelings and the trajectory of their unique relationship feel like a beautiful whirlwind you're lucky to be privy to.
This novel includes stage directions, changes in narrator, and frequent switches from first to third person. I have never read anything quite like this. Stunning story with insightful prose that often left me with my mouth wide open. I will be recommending this book to so many people!
Some standout quotes that are spoiler free are:
“There was wonder here, even if Regan no longer saw it. Even if she no longer felt it, he would feel it for both of them. He would translate it for her later. He would learn to draw it for her, he thought, or to write it, or graph it.”
“If I'm a lover of impossible problems then will you have loved me for my impossibilities, so tell me, Regan, what else matters but this, us?”
4.5 “Alexa, play The Prophecy”
Could this be my new favorite Emily Henry book?? I need to reread Book Lovers and Happy Place. Regardless, I absolutely loved it. I cried so much, but also smiled for so long my face hurts.
Some key features: Characters in their 30s. Estranged families. Childhood trauma. Trust issues. Fake dating.
4.5 - The writing style of this novel is so up my street. I've never finished a book and had the desire to immediately start reading it again. What a wonderful story, full of poetic descriptions and love letters. I expected a bit more from the ending, but that's the only reason this has slightly fallen short of 5 stars. I suspect this will make my top 10 of the year!
This woman doesn't miss! This book is an exquisite blend of profound themes presented in a literary manner, intertwined seamlessly with heartwarming romance. Abby skillfully navigates deep emotional waters, offering authentic and poignant portrayals of mental health struggles that resonate deeply with readers. The crossover of characters from previous books adds an extra layer of delight, enhancing each story by interconnecting them (I now have more reasons to go reread them!). Abby's talent for crafting heart-wrenching romances shines brightly throughout every page. Without a doubt, this is my favorite romance series. Every single one has been a hit.