this book stumbled over its own world building so much, i found myself wishing it were a retelling rather than a poorly adapted ri mean..... i guess??
this book stumbled over its own world building so much, i found myself wishing it were a retelling rather than a poorly adapted rendition of greek mythology. hades and persephone sadly lacked chemistry to me, and their dialogue was mostly cringy, made worse by the fact that they're supposed to be these regal and intimidating gods.
i found myself preferring that they use each other for sex then go separate ways rather than falling in love because there was such insta love and cheesy interactions between them. hades was obsessed with persephone for reasons such as she was nice to him and she liked puppies. okay?? you mean like all women??
even the smut in this was pretty average. within the first third of the book the author sets it up to be very kink-focused and heavy on sub/dom, but the majority of the book ends up being very vanilla and it's like the author forget she even wrote the first scene between them.
overall it was a different read than what i'm used to and i plan to continue the series because i hear the rest are good, but this first one just felt typical and meh....more
After not being taught whatsoever about Palestine (or Israel, for that matter)Credit to the for this recommendation!
After not being taught whatsoever about Palestine (or Israel, for that matter), this was the first resource I picked up in the endeavour of teaching myself. I would recommend the audiobook for this book because at times the writing can be decently lengthy and academic. Since this book is an overview of 100 years of history, it wasn't able to delve deep into each era, so I found that with every question this book answered, it made me ask four more. If it's your first time reading deeply into the history of Palestine and Zionism, I would come into it equipped with a basic overview, or else be prepared to continue researching during and after reading!
Just a tip on if you plan to read this: I would start with the conclusion first because it provides a modern-day context and then you can work backwards in time with chapters 1-7 to learn the backstory. I found that last chapter to be most interesting part of the book and it answered a lot of questions I had at the beginning....more
in summary, holy SHIT did we have bad taste back in the 2000s. there's very little to redeem how obnoxious, predictable, outdated and poorly w[image]
in summary, holy SHIT did we have bad taste back in the 2000s. there's very little to redeem how obnoxious, predictable, outdated and poorly written this book was. basically nothing happens in this book except 500 pages of dreading lena's birthday and escapades about how the whole town hates her, and by the end of the book it doesn't even resolve the main conflict??? the choice to have this be from a random guy's POV even though the entire plot is centered on lena was an absolutely bonkers choice because ethan was SO annoying and irrelevant.
i could go on and on but i should've known from the first chapter that a book that is so deeply set around the south and the confederacy was definitely a no-go...more
if i would've read this without seeing the show then it probably would've been 2 or 3 stars, but seeing daphne and simon in my head felt like rewatchiif i would've read this without seeing the show then it probably would've been 2 or 3 stars, but seeing daphne and simon in my head felt like rewatching the show, which i adore so much. if this book didn't contain the few problematic scenes (that the show conveniently edited) toward the end, i'm sure it'd be a full five stars.
julia quinn is so good at writing heart wrenching dialogue and confessions of love. this book was so vivid and i can't wait to read the sequels before diving into further seasons of the show....more
even though the first half of this was slightly dragging for me, the second half made up for it!! just based on the title alone i had a suspicious i'deven though the first half of this was slightly dragging for me, the second half made up for it!! just based on the title alone i had a suspicious i'd be able to relate to eve most out of the brown sisters, and her story definitely confirmed it. for anyone in their 20s still puzzling out what they wanna do with their life while everyone else seems to have it figured out, this book will speak to you.
i loved that eve was unapologetically herself and inappropriate and funny but also caring and honest and smart. i have a tenuous relationship with workplace romances but the small town setting of this kept it afloat. overall i had some minor comments of little nitpicky things i didn't enjoy, but i ended up flying through the second half of this and i think it's my favorite in the series....more
this series continues to be precious and well worth the time and money (even though i got this copy from my library). the hilarity and heartwarming mothis series continues to be precious and well worth the time and money (even though i got this copy from my library). the hilarity and heartwarming moments continue, and this book is set over the summer holidays on a school trip to paris, which i think added a neat layer of interest to the setting and set up some interesting scenarios (*cough* one bed trope).
this installment veers from the previous two because it begins to address more serious topics. the first two volumes weren't necessarily pure fluff because there was a lot of discussion around grappling with sexuality, but this book now weaves in more teen issues like self harm and eating disorders. although it garnered a great discussion, it also led to moments of preachiness that i'm just not a fan of. in certain scenes, it seemed like the author was speaking through the characters rather than the characters speaking for themselves, which is the first time i've felt like that this whole series.
still, i have volume four ready to pick up from the library and can't wait to continue! nick and charlie's story is so engrossing and optimistic. i can't wait to see how it will be adapted for the netflix show....more
I thought I could handle a book about fandom/fanfic when it's a fat MC romance, but I just couldn't do it, especially when the loveDNF at ~250 pages.
I thought I could handle a book about fandom/fanfic when it's a fat MC romance, but I just couldn't do it, especially when the love interest/famous celebrity is one of the people in the fandom?? it's so unrealistic and cringy. No actor in a TV show would ever go home and log onto a fandom forum and write fanfiction about himself.... it just was so weird and invasive feeling. This book in general had so many tropes I don't like and it made me dread picking it up, so I just decided to pass on it. ...more
I was originally loving this book from the first 100 pages. It actually mirrors my life really similarly, and I was enjoying seeinDNF at 150ish pages
I was originally loving this book from the first 100 pages. It actually mirrors my life really similarly, and I was enjoying seeing a main character whose shoes I could step into so fittingly. From her workplace situation to her state of mind, I really embraced the way she navigated conflict and I was excited to see where this was headed.
However, this book took a steep downhill when the romance began. I didn’t mind the love interest—in fact, I only wish I’d read on so that I could learn more about him. The main character just becomes intolerable around him because she starts to completely contradict herself. Whereas she is typically super disgusted by the men at her job who judge her and are bossy and comment on her appearance/body, it’s somehow miraculously okay when Tate does it. The pacing of enemies to lovers was ruined by instalove and the main character’s attraction to Tate overpowering her “badass” vibes she tries to have at the office.
Also, the plot of this book becomes unbearingly unrealistic. The main character falls and hits her head and gets a minor concussion, then the hospital wants to keep her overnight for that? There were just a lot of small bits of plot in this that don’t make sense and could have been edited out in the first draft, but somehow I was expected to suspend my disbelief.
It probably wouldn’t have hurt me to finish this, but I just wasn’t enjoying it and wasn’t interested in how it ended because the writing and characters became so cheesy and hard to believe in....more
I got some Shel Silverstein books from the library to feed my nostalgia, and it was an interesting reread. They're as funny and easy and light as I reI got some Shel Silverstein books from the library to feed my nostalgia, and it was an interesting reread. They're as funny and easy and light as I remember, but I'm shocked by how much I didn't remember. Maybe I just skimmed it for the pictures as a kid, but still, these were entertaining to read out loud to my cats....more
Reading Neal Shusterman is so nostalgic to me because his books were really popular while I was in high school. Picking up a newer series by him made Reading Neal Shusterman is so nostalgic to me because his books were really popular while I was in high school. Picking up a newer series by him made me feel that same way and was a good throwback to the past being reacquainted with his writing style.
I feel like there's a ton of eyes on me as I review this because I had no idea this book was as popular as it is. It seemed everywhere I turned while I was reading this, one person or another told me it was their favorite book. Unfortunately, it's not a new favorite of mine, but I do see where they're coming from. This book is so imaginative and unique plot-wise, offering lots of plot twists and political intrigue and questions about morality. The concept itself is so wise and difficult to tackle, but Shusterman considered every angle of this world and addressed them all, so the storytelling was comprehensive.
I was addicted to this book. The amount of days it took me to read is not reflective of the fact that every time I sat down with this book, I was always eager to find out what happened next. I read the last 100 pages in one sitting and was so shocked how I'd guessed nothing and it still kept me on my toes even though I thought I had figured it out. Shusterman has definitely pinned down how to tell a story.
However, the reason this didn't resonate with me as much as I wished it did--and the reason I took off a star--is because I felt no connection to the two main characters. This book is written in third person, and their personalities and backstories are so dry that it felt like you could replace the characters with any other teenagers in that world and the storyline would be the same. I wanted to get more from the characters, but they just felt generic and they made decisions and had character arcs that were very typical and black and white. It's so hard to describe how this aspect of the story flopped, though, because by the end I did realize that I cared about the characters more than I thought I did. But still, I can't shake the feeling that this book didn't totally immerse or sell me, partly because it feels a little too polished and didn't dive deep into character descriptions and fleshing them out as humans.
I would like to continue the series eventually, but I'm going on a library ban so I can read more from my shelves, so it might take a hot second....more
New favorite!!! What this book lacked in its predictability and simplicity, it made up for in gorgeous writing, tangible characters, and ench4.5 stars
New favorite!!! What this book lacked in its predictability and simplicity, it made up for in gorgeous writing, tangible characters, and enchanting world. The best way I can describe this book is Miss Peregrines meets Second Chance Summer, and I love that the magical elements of this were subtle but added just enough of a surreal element to make your head spin--in a good way, of course.
I LOVED the relationship in this book from beginning to end. Georgie's reactions to Prue were so wholesome and hilarious, and Prue being vocal for the first time about liking girls was such a touching spot of the book that will definitely make this unforgettable.
Even though this book was brief (and honestly it would be a five star read if we would have gotten just a liiiitle more description and the writing was tweaked to be more subtle so that I wouldn't have guessed so much), it has a lot of heart. The family relationships in this and the island setting were so cozy and pleasant. Even though this has darker themes toward the end and has a melancholy vibe, it was still addicting and hopeful and had moments of tenderness, like the humor I mentioned earlier.
As much as I would LOVE a continuation of this story, I think it ends in a place that purposefully makes my heart ache for more. This book was just so spectacular that I want more, so I think it's a sign that I should just give more of Katrina Leno's books a read....more
This book was entirely a blast from the past, and reading it was like rewatching the movie because the two are so similar and nostalgic. Obviously, thThis book was entirely a blast from the past, and reading it was like rewatching the movie because the two are so similar and nostalgic. Obviously, this book focuses on such melodramatic and cheesy plot points, but the reason it was so fun was because of Mia's sass and exasperation with her entire situation. I wish this book would have focused more on her transition to princess life rather than trying to continue on as normal and keeping it a secret, but I think that will be a lot more unpacked in the future books of the series, which I'm definitely interested in reading because they're so lighthearted and fun and it makes me feel 12 again when I read these. Obviously there are some lines that wouldn't fly if this book were published today, but overall this book held up over the decades and I think it was a ton of fun for young readers and as an adult....more
I read this book in one sitting and all I have to say is:
1. wow 2. ..... ok 3. interesting
This book would be great to discuss in a book club because itI read this book in one sitting and all I have to say is:
1. wow 2. ..... ok 3. interesting
This book would be great to discuss in a book club because it talks about depression and making bad choices and getting over-attached to love to fill the voids in your life and it works so well. I loved watching the main character descend into chaos and nonsense, and like I said, I just could not put down this book. I'm not sure that I'll be thinking about it too far in the future because I read it too fast to let the deeper themes really sink in, but I would love to revisit it and mark up some of its great quotes when I get my own copy....more
This is the ultimate feel-good book. It's cute, it's down to Earth, it's a gleaming royal setting, and the cast of characters is so fun. The main charThis is the ultimate feel-good book. It's cute, it's down to Earth, it's a gleaming royal setting, and the cast of characters is so fun. The main character Daisy is sarcastic and witty in a way that resembles a real teenager but doesn't come off as corny. The book is packed with action and twists, almost within every chapter. There's never a good place to put this book down because something new is always occurring. I loved how easy and feel-good this book seemed, but it also had roots of relatable problems like having a sibling who outshines you and handling being the second best and learning not to take others' false judgments of you to heart. This book could have been drawn out to fill some of the time in the time skips or establish the romance better, but I think the shortness of the book is actually what made it so simple and sweet. I wasn't planning on reading this one and intended to just jump into the sequel because it has a f/f romance, but I'm so glad I picked this up and I'll definitely be investing in a copy of the newer paperback version that was updated to match the sequel....more
I have nothing new to say about cute, wholesome, but darkly interesting these books are. This isn't my favorite volume in the series pace and content I have nothing new to say about cute, wholesome, but darkly interesting these books are. This isn't my favorite volume in the series pace and content wise, but it's definitely kept my interest for all these volumes and it's up there with my favorite mangas I can't wait to own. Time to harass my library to buy the last volumes in the series hehehe....more
This book is difficult to review because it had a lot of potential but it was just.... bad. First and foremost, I think this book would have been so mThis book is difficult to review because it had a lot of potential but it was just.... bad. First and foremost, I think this book would have been so much more enjoyable to an actual teenager, so I might have liked this better when I was in high school. But then again, I think even a teenager would find the writing style problematic and sort of unrealistic for how teenagers talk, so it's difficult to recommend.
This book is told entirely through text messages. I think this could have been an interesting and fast-paced format, but it just flopped in multiple ways. The characters very quickly got on their high horse and bonded about how they nEvEr use emojis or gifs because the main character said something pretentious about communicating with words rather than pictures. This was the beginning of a string of personality traits the main character had that made me SO annoyed with her. She's the type of "nerdy" girl who has a bunch of niche knowledge and always inserts it into the convo just to flex on whoever she's talking to. It was so weird and awkward, and if it was me texting her, I would have ghosted her because she's so uncomfortable to hold a conversation with. And that's my lasting impression of this book is that texts should be fun and low stakes and easy to read, but this book was painful and almost... boring?
Also, this book just deals with so much unnecessary drama. The main character's friend group is the WORST and every day she reports back what girl is mad at who and what girl is dating who and why she's annoyed at them and it just felt like such childish drama that was also SUPER confusing because we never actually get to see them outside what the main character explains. In general, I wish this book would have focused more on developing a relationship between the two characters rather than them just coming to rant to one another about their lives because it was written really confusing since we only had the POV of texts.
I would love to read another book in this format, but this one was far too uncomfortable to read because of the awkward and unrealistic dialogue, the cringy and underexplained drama, and how predictable it was. There were definitely parts that made me crack a smile and I liked the discussion of the characters' sexualities (the mc is demi and the love interest is bi), but I don't think this author was the right person to write this type of story, unless she watches a lot more Tik Toks and does research on how teens actually talk and interact....more
This was so amazing!!! It's a rare compliment when I say that the writing style of a graphic novel is good--because usually it's the art that4.5 stars
This was so amazing!!! It's a rare compliment when I say that the writing style of a graphic novel is good--because usually it's the art that takes precedence in this format--but the writing style of this was gorgeous and the art style matched that perfectly. I can easily get lost while reading sci-fi, but this was a creative and imaginative world that touched on deep earth colonies, cryogenic freezing, and augmented reality without ever swamping the reader with too much information or technology. Despite their circumstances, the characters really shone through. I adored Amy and her parents and her friend groups, and I also think it was interesting that in a book with so many resources and technologies available to cause trouble, the actual conflict of the story was actually within Amy herself. This story of growth and coming to terms with your home was an intriguing journey that was both enlightening to read as a sci-fi tale but also metaphorically very relevant for adolescents and adults alike. My only complaint about this book is that it's called Space Boy and introduces this space boy character even though the book revolves around Amy. I was questioning what this boy's relevance was in the story because he was only shown twice, and even then, so little is revealed about him. Obviously I'll have to read on to find out--and I definitely intend to--but I think it odd that he was left out so much in a story that's literally titled after him. But like I said, I will be requesting the sequels at my library immediately because I can't wait to see where the character development, friendships, and conflict go from here!...more
This book was so sweet!! I've read ghost x human love stories before and always was skeptical, but this one pulled it off super well and I a3.75 stars
This book was so sweet!! I've read ghost x human love stories before and always was skeptical, but this one pulled it off super well and I actually liked how this dabbled more in the paranormal world than the real one with the main character sort of acting as a liaison between the two. I loved the blooming relationship which was tentative but also fun and outgoing. The art style was pastel and beautiful, and it almost looked like video game graphics, which I thought was neat.
My only issue with this book was that the pacing and structure of it felt a bit off. I wish we'd had more time to see the two's relationship progress and to witness moments where their bond to each other strengthened because the concision of the plot made it seem a bit like instalove. Also, I wish the relationship between Hamal and the paranormal world was explained better because I didn't quite understand the way that he was equipped with supernatural powers. Also, the end threw in a chapter that was set one year after the ending of the book, and I thought that it was a nice way to see what the characters were doing after everything, but I wish it could have either been expanded so that the novel had two equal parts or else separated entirely, expanded, and made into a sequel. It felt long-winded and unnecessarily complicated for an epilogue, even though there did end up being a happily ever after.
But I loved the m/m relationship and the representation of two men of color falling in love amidst an emotional whirlwind of a plot. Also, the fact that the main character worked in a flower shop was such a nice, sweet touch. I definitely recommend this if you want a paranormal/fantastical graphic novel with a queer relationship....more
I'm upsetti spaghetti that this book ended as soon as it did.
I went into this thinking it would be just vapid smut, so boy was I surprised. 4.5 stars
I'm upsetti spaghetti that this book ended as soon as it did.
I went into this thinking it would be just vapid smut, so boy was I surprised. The writing in this is actually one of the most gorgeous styles I've read all year, and I'm 100% gonna read more from this author. This had a great segmenting of smut versus actual plot, and the actual plot was.... wait for it.... interesting! I will admit that .5 stars came off of the rating because it was a little confusing, but it was an enchanting concept nonetheless. I just wish there was more direction on why the characters were doing what they were doing because it felt a bit aimless, and by the end of the book, I forgot why the characters were so invested in doing this ritual.
Still, I think this book is really modern in how it examines virginity and polyamory. In between the sexy scenes, there's so much angst and pining, and it's my exact cup of tea. I've heard lots of negative things about book two, but I'm interested nonetheless to see where this goes....more
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