Gabriela
“I wish I'd done everything on earth with you”
4.5
There were many times when this story took my breath away. Claire does a fantastic job making these characters feel compelling and real. I have never read love and longing described so beautifully and evocatively. They fall in love when they're young, but life and their fear get in the way. We grow up with them, and see how their relationship evolves, as they come in and out of each other's lives. This is a sorrowful and heavy story, so proceed cautiously and check content warnings. But it is also hopeful and lovely in all the ways that matter.
This novel took what Normal People attempted, and improved on it significantly. The only reason it's 4.5 is because I felt like some sections could be trimmed down to improve the pacing in the middle of the book. But do not let that stop you from reading this. It is exquisite.
This series never misses, but I know I'm biased because of how invested I am in these characters already. I love how Alice handled the changes and decisions they are facing. The conversations they have show a level of vulnerability and communication skills most adults I know don't even have. Some might think it makes it less realistic, but my hope is that in reading this it helps others come to terms with their own experiences, feelings, and decisions. If you already like the series, you don't need any convincing to read this. It's great. It's iconic. It's perfect.
I enjoyed this a bit more than the first book, but it certainly wasn't perfect. Mainly because I was not as annoyed with Violet in this book (emphasis on the “not as”). I had fun with this plot, as it focused more on the conflict and answering some of the questions left unanswered in the first book. The action scenes were riveting and the book's ending delivered equal parts hope, sadness, and anger. I was sobbing by the end of the book. The romance part was the weaker point compared to the fantasy elements, even if I do overall like Xaden and Violet together. It's just not executed as well as it could be.
Some minor complaints (no plot spoilers):
-Violet, Violet, Violet. I liked her a lot more this book, but the conflict with Xaden felt much more forced this time. Her trust issues are so bad that I genuinely think the Healers Quadrant should dedicate a few healers to her therapy. She was being pretty unreasonable, but part of the reason it didn't bother me as much is that I knew that's how she was going to be. I tuned her out when she was being annoying. Our boy Xaden was trying his best and she was not making it easy.
-Side characters: Rebecca is trying to create a big world with this series. I get it. But there are SO MANY side characters I'm supposed to care about that most of them feel very underdeveloped. A more focused approach to side characters would probably make them more compelling.
-The writing: It's not that different from the first book, but I still some of the dialogue and themes feel quite superficial. Some people say it felt rushed, and that could very well be it. After all, both of these books being released the same year is a good indicator of this.
If you enjoyed the first book, I would absolutely recommend reading this. I had a very good time reading it and found a lot of the plot points very compelling and interesting. I didn't pick up this series expecting perfection, just a fun time. And it mostly delivered. I am invested in this storyline and will be picking up the next book.
Note: I read this book while also listening to the audiobook. I feel like it enhanced my reading experience and the emotions felt much more palpable. Take this into account as the medium one consumes a book can make the experience very different from others.
3.5. I'll start this review by saying that fantasy/romantasy isn't a genre I'm usually interested in. I am not the target audience for this book, so take this with a grain of salt.
I, undeniably, had a very fun time reading this book. I am into this plot and I'm starting Iron Flame tonight. HOWEVER, I had some issues (all of them named Violet Sorrengail) that keep this from getting to a higher rating:
-The reason they are enemies actually makes a lot of sense, but the way Violet is written undermines this constantly during the first quarter of the book. It's ok that she finds him attractive in spite of their rivalry, but some of the moments are completely ruined by her repeating over and over how hot he is. He's about to kill her and her brain is just like “wow isn't he so beautiful.” She is written like she is a 14 year old girl who has her first crush. The insta-love thing is immediately such a turn off. And of course now having finished it knowing that they were both like this makes me roll my eyes, but at least I only had to suffer through Violet's inner dialogue.
-Continuing with that thought, when she falls for him she becomes the most insufferable character. I like a bit of longing and descriptions of how much they want each other in book, but this author does such a disservice to Violet by writing her like her brain is pure horniness and nothing else. She thinks says and does the most stupid things at the most inopportune moments. I kept thinking that maybe what she needed was a good vibrator to not act like she was in heat all the time.
-In that scene where Xaden is very upset and is at the Parapet, tell me why this girl decides to make it about herself and try to DTR? It's a good thing he already loved her, because I would've shoved her. Time and place, Violence.
-Xaden repeatedly tells her she can't fall for him because she doesn't really know him. She says that she knows enough and ignores him. Then she's so surprised to learn that shocker he has hidden some things from her and now she says she can't trust him. It's not like he isn't to blame, but she fell for him and trusted him even when he was so clear that he wasn't opening up about everything. You can't be that outraged by something that he warned you about and you ignored.
Overall, fun plot. Good war scenes. Good plot twists. Accessible to non-fantasy readers. But it's very hard to be all in on the romance when the main character is so insufferable and seemingly immature (which is a shame because she is clearly brilliant and very powerful). The main character's dialogue (both internal and external) is the weakest point of this book.
3.5. I consumed this book as an audiobook, which was a really enjoyable experience. With its short chapters and engaging storytelling, I honestly had a great time listening to this. However, it felt a bit long for my taste, while also leaving some topics not adequately explored. I won't go into many details, but this is a book for people interested in true crime and podcasts in that genre. However, as entertaining as it was, the statement that it was trying to make feels so obvious and cliche that it holds it back from a 4-star rating. It's written in a clear and accessible way, while still managing to deliver compelling emotions that keep you coming back for more. It was a good time, but nothing exceptional.
I just reread this novel. Loved it just as much. It's just so full of soul. My cheeks hurt from smiling and my eyes are full of tears.
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I did not expect to be so blown away by this novel. This time travel love story hits all the right marks for me when it comes to a romance novel. The characters were well developed, the chemistry was strong and believable, and the anticipation and longing were written beautifully. This is a story about finding the perfect person at the wrong time in your life (literally), but also about the compromises that are and are not worth making as we grow up and pursue our dreams. How much do we owe our past self who dreamt up this life? And how do we stay true to that while still celebrating our growth? It also deals with topics of grief and mental health. It has soul and depth, while still being cute as hell! I cannot recommend this highly enough.
It was cute and heartwarming, but repetitive and predictable. I wanted to like it, but every chapter felt formulaic. The writing style also feels dull and uninspired. It often happens when I read other Japanese translated novels , so it could very well be a cultural thing. It reminds me of reading YA novels where the author feels the need to over explain and tell me, rather than show me. It's fine. I enjoyed reading it, but I can't in good conscience give it more than 3 stars.
3.5. It was a lot of fun to read this. It had the right amount of silly plot, charming characters, and heartwarming/sad moments. I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't exactly what I had in mind. This is ultimately a story about accepting some unchangeable facts of life and appreciating the moments we have while we have them. It made me cry, it made me laugh, and was a quick and easy read. What holds it back from a higher rating was that the overall plot and messages felt a bit predictable. It won't change your life, but I did like it. A good comfort read if your idea of comfort is a good cry (which it is for me!).
“That was the problem with women falling out of love; the veil of romance fell away from their eyes, and they looked in and could read you.”
This short little story captures the point of view of this man trying to come to terms with the fact her fiancee had changed her mind about marrying him. We get glimpses of the past, how he asked her to move in with and marry him, only to find the reality of it less than desirable. It's a story about misogyny, the reconciliation between the idealized version of what a woman can do for you and what they need from you; it's also about how small comments (said and unsaid) can have such a huge impact in how another person sees you and what you mean to them. Because you're seeing this from his POV, you also get a glimpse at the stories he tells himself to make sense of what happened, to shift the blame away from him.
Claire Keegan is a master at exploring topics in a subtle way in a very short amount of pages. This is certainly worth a read.
The book is quite ambitious and covers a lot of themes that I found incredibly interesting, ranging from psychology, pseudoscientific health treatments, conspiracy theorists, media literacy, social media algorithms, love, open marriages, parenthood, and more. However, there were times when I got lost in tangents that were too far off from the plot or lingered for too long. Despite that, the book ultimately came together wonderfully. Both Jack and Elizabeth's journeys in questioning their histories, identities, and their place in the relationship broke my heart more than a few times. Jack is a romantic artist with a tendency for people-pleasing, while Elizabeth is a scientist who struggles to accept love and success. I found the tone of the book to be overall cynical, yet hopeful.
I would have given this book five stars if it were shorter and if it didn't commit one of my least favorite book offenses: chapters with no names or numbers. But all in all, I still recommend it. If you find any of the themes mentioned intriguing, then you will most likely enjoy this book. It's lengthy, but it's worth the read.
I found the beginning of this book to be quite funny and relatable. I can definitely imagine it as a hilarious romcom. Overall, I had a good time reading it. However, I feel like it tried to weave one too many things that in the end felt a bit random and unsatisfying. Between the art thing, the mystery messages thing, the kayak incident, the health kick thing, the hotel drama, and the Terry thing, the actual romance didn't feel as fleshed out as I wanted it to be. And the message behind the story was spelled out so clearly and repeatedly that it felt like I was being talked down to. It's an ok enemies to lovers story, but it's not great. Fun and funny is how I would mainly describe this.
I will, however, keep the phrase “the ride is it” very close to my heart.
This experimental book provided me such a unique reading experience! Centered around the friendship and ongoing conversation of these two men, this fictional book interweaves literature, queer history, the dark past of psychology in regards to queer identities, and Puerto Rican lore. This is all done through a variety of storytelling techniques where both men encourage each other to lie and embellish the stories to make them interesting and compelling; I especially enjoyed the scenes they described and composed as if they were directing a movie. The storytelling wasn't linear or perfect, but felt messy, organic, and genuine. Although the main characters in this story are fictional, many of the topics and historical figures they talk about are not. I enjoyed the book a lot, but mostly their stories guided me towards different rabbit holes I could get lost in as I learnt about the historical context this story wanted to capture. The use of photos and black out poetry based on the text of the Sex Variants truly enhanced the experience and provided insights into the stories being told. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but since this book walks the line between fiction and nonfiction, I didn't find it as easy to read it for long periods of time.
It was a fun read. The main character is pretty unhinged, but even with her questionable decisions and delusions, she presented very some interesting critiques of society's double standards and injustices (in terms of class, power, race, among others). I appreciate what the author was doing with both the story and its writing. It felt like a manic rant, which does help convey the mental state of the MC. She's simultaneously very introspective and self-aware while actively engaging with her most nonsensical conclusions. However, most characters in this book are unlikeable, hypocrites, and overall bad people. I don't mind unlikeable characters, but wow did I find it difficult to hold on to any relatable or redeemable traits! Ultimately, it was good, but not a must-read. Although for how short it is, I would recommend this. Read this in an afternoon.
This was SO sweet, emotional, and inspiring. I really enjoyed getting to know Miles and Eric. This is a story about trans and queer joy, about reinventing yourself and trusting that radical acceptance of your true self will lead to joyfulness, even if the path is full of hurdles. I really appreciated that this story didn't shy away from some of the negative experiences trans kids have to go through both with friends, the institutions they navigate, and family dynamics, even as it was trying to keep itself a positive story. The use of music as a tool through which to reflect that journey of self discovery and introspection was really effective and moving. This book made me sad at times, but mostly it made me very very happy.
The stories are very hit or miss. My standout stories were Lasiren, The Rider, The Aesthete, and Dark Home. Even if there were stories I enjoyed, I struggled to get through this book; I found myself not looking forward to reading it. A testament to that is that between the date I started reading this and the time I finished it I started 17!!! other books. I am not usually a fan of horror, so this is likely just not the genre for me. This is going to be loved by many other people. But those people aren't me.
4.5. This was so cute, funny, and endearing. This isn't going to necessarily hit the same for everyone, but I found Imogen's character so relatable. This is a book about a very enthusiastic LGBTQ+ ally coming to terms with the possibility that she might actually be queer. I love bi stories (in general), but I especially love ones that discuss the nuances of that experience even within queer groups of people. There are discussions of bi erasure, biphobia, other people wanting to gatekeep queerness, and a bunch other problematic issues. However, this is ultimately a story about acceptance, love, and the importance of having a community of people who love you and respect your journey. I laughed and screamed a lot as I was reading it (maybe it was hitting too close to home). I recommend it to anyone! A very sweet depiction of this identity struggle.
This is the story of the Padavano family, but focused on the four inseparable sisters and the man one of them chooses to marry. We learn about their childhoods, their dreams, and how their lives might differ from the plans they had set for themselves. It's ultimately about the family dynamics that come from grief, mental illness, disappointment, trauma, and controversial romantic choices. I connected deeply with some of these characters, so that certainly influences how strongly this story affected me. It made me ugly cry many times. It was heartbreaking, hopeful, and deeply moving. If you liked Little Women, there's a good chance you'll enjoy this story. It has a strong chance of being my favorite 2023 release, but I guess we'll see by the end of this year!
3.5. It is such a cute and cozy story! However, because of how short it is, I am left wanting more depth from these characters and the plot didn't really surprise me in any way. It's a quick story that has some of the most beautiful illustrations, but it didn't connect with me on the level I seek from a book.
3.5 - This book had a bit of a slow start and lost me in some of the flashbacks, but overall I fell in love with this friendship group who bonded through the trauma of losing their college friend. They made a pact to throw each other funerals while they were still living and not leave anything unsaid about how much they've meant to each other. Through flashbacks of each of these character's funerals you get to know their stories and relationships with each other. I thought it was beautifully written and the last few chapters made me ugly cry more than a few times. It was funny, charming, existential and deeply heartfelt.
“It's all going to kill you, you might as well do something fun.”
I'll start by saying that I'm not usually a horror sort of gal, so take that into account when reading this review. The concept of this book appealed to me a lot, and I'm happy to report it exceeded my expectations. The story and these characters came alive and I could picture this SO clearly. It was entertaining, creepy, and horrifying. I highly recommend reading this while listening to a creepy reading music playlist. But above all, the production quality of this book is outstanding. They took the concept of the furniture store catalogue and ran with it. I can't say much more without spoiling it, but this book is an experience that goes beyond the written words. I was not expecting to like it so much!
It's cute. It's cheesy. It's enemies to lovers/fake dating goodness. If you like romcoms and movie soundtracks, this will be right up your alley. I did find some of the main character's decisions a bit difficult to understand or justify. Liz was really going through it after the death of her mom, but even with that context she sometimes came across as unjustifiably clueless and/or deceitful. It's a slow burn romance with a predictable plot, but both the journey and the destination were enjoyable even taking that into account.
I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. I've heard great things about it, but the whole ghost thing doesn't appeal to me. But what better romance to read during October, right?
Well, this book really took me by surprise. By the last few chapters I was screaming and reading while standing up because the ending was just so good! No spoilers here, but this is a very sweet and emotional love story with a very compelling female main character and a family that feels like they jump out of the page. It's cheesy, but honestly by the end of it I was all in.