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my rating |
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1
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| B0FSJNYL5K
| 4.29
| 4,747,807
| Jan 28, 1813
| Jun 22, 2023
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it was amazing
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My first Jane Austen, and goodness gracious me! It was so delightful, my only regret is I waited so long to read it. For me, classics have always been My first Jane Austen, and goodness gracious me! It was so delightful, my only regret is I waited so long to read it. For me, classics have always been intimidating. English isn't my first language, and I remember struggling in high school, trying to make heads and tails of whatever archaic passages we were forced to read with nary a success. Fast forward to adulthood, and my attempts at classics were yet again met with boredom and hardly any returns for the amount of hours spent. (I'm looking at you, Anna Karenina). So even though there's so much love for Jane Austen, and I've been curious for quite some time, I held off. I didn't want to put the effort in, only to be bored out of my mind for tens of hours, reading and rereading long paragraphs of ideas and norms which no longer applied and quite frankly, no one cared. (Yeah, Anna Karenina really traumatized me.) But slowly and surely, my curiosity could no longer be held off, and my questionable experiences with classics were softened in my memories with time gone by. So I braced myself and dove into Pride and Prejudice with equal parts excitement and apprehension. And at first, I thought I'd made a terrible mistake. The writing was as impenetrable as I feared, the characters a bit silly, and the domestic drama too outdated to really appeal to a modern reader. But then, after a few chapters of really soldiering on, something miraculous happened. It was like a switch had flipped and my mind crossed over into 19th century England. The writing, the characters, the drama—they all came alive, and from that moment on, I was hooked. Everyone's always talking about how witty Jane Austen is, and boy on boy, they're not kidding. The dialogue is just one zing after another, leaving me in wonder after almost every sentence. I often found myself lingering and savoring, just to make sure I got every bit of pleasure out that I could. I was riveted, as riveted as I'd ever been with any contemporary book of any genre. And maybe that surprised me more than anything else. I expected a slog, one I'd have to wade through with much reluctance and under duress. Instead, I'd found that magical, liminal space between the real and the fictional, and proceeded to occupy it with such ferocity, I blew through the book and hardly surfaced for breath. The domestic and matrimonial dramas within still felt fresh and relevant to today, even though surely we've come far in the last few hundred years. And the characters still rang true with all their strength and weaknesses. In short, I think Austen pressed in on the foibles of human nature, and I'm certain those will never become irrelevant, no matter where our society is headed. One thing that's really interesting about reading a book like this is knowing just how influential it will come to be and thus being able to experience the story from that angle. So many books and even entire genres (hello, regency romance!) have followed in the footsteps of Jane Austen, and to see their inspiration is as fascinating as it is illuminating. All this praise isn't to say this is an easy read, per se. After all, the book was written hundreds of years ago and the constantly evolving nature of language, being what it is, has moved past this more convoluted and restrained style. But if you're willing to put in the effort, especially at the beginning, this is one of those books that does richly reward you for your hard work. I will say, it's a good thing I don't live back in the day. I'm such a literal and straightforward person, I can totally see myself bumbling around in the 19th century, offending everyone, embarrassing the family name, and agreeing to all sorts of marriages without any inkling of what I'd done. If ever there was a book that could be a gateway drug to anything, it would be this book to Jane Austen for me. I feel like the floodgates have opened, the dam burst, the Pandora's box unsealed. And the only way forward is to read more Jane Austen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ See also, my thoughts on: Sense and Sensibility ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 21, 2025
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Nov 25, 2025
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Nov 21, 2025
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Hardcover
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2
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| 0593851633
| 9780593851630
| 0593851633
| 3.68
| 3,362
| Sep 16, 2025
| Sep 16, 2025
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it was amazing
| You are the first delivery of human pioneers to Mars. There is no going back. . . . You must continue. Let me first pause and take a deep breath, b You are the first delivery of human pioneers to Mars. There is no going back. . . . You must continue. Let me first pause and take a deep breath, because what the heck did I just read? I'm always looking for that perfect Mars exploration story—you know, the one where astronauts land on the red planet and strange things start to happen—and wow, did this deliver. I feel like I've been walloped, again and again, and I loved every second of it. I was drawn to this book initially because the blurb mentioned locked-room mystery set on Mars, and of course, I tripped all over myself trying to get my grabby hands on it. But to call this a mystery is to sell the story short. It is that, but also so much more. We slip seamlessly into the mind of Dana Gold as she comes out of deep sleep, one of three astronauts aboard the vessel that's about to delivery them onto Mars. Bots have been sent ahead to build the habitat that will be their forever home and to welcome them onto this desolate planet. But they've lost communications with the bots, and that's only the beginning of their troubles. This tale grabbed me immediately. The science fiction component is so interesting and unique. The worldbuilding isn't centered around technology, but rather, there's a lot of humanity woven into it. The bots are made by humans and are therefore in our likeness, even if their makers didn't intend for that to happen. And so the evolution and the interaction of the bots is a fascinating and crucial focal point of the story. But if you're not usually a reader of science fiction, don't let the setting scare you away. The backdrop of Mars is simply the starting point from which this story can take off. It isn't about Mars or space or robots. It's about humans and what we would do when pushed to the limit. The horror element comes on slowly. We see Gold's thoughts and emotions as things start to go wrong. The horror isn't in the physical, but rather the psychological. There is a lot of exploration about where horror comes from, if it is within us humans and we manifest it in ourselves and the things we build, or if it comes from outside sources, both the known and the unknown. It gave me the chills, and I found it to be absolutely fascinating. Because this is a novella, there is an economy to the writing that makes every moment count. We don't get mired in unnecessary explanations, we don't get stuck in overly emotional ruminations. We go from scene to scene, each one so propulsive, so tautly suspended, it felt like I was holding my breath the whole time. I honestly haven't been this excited about a sci-fi and horror blend in a long time. The only thing is, after reading this, I'm definitely giving up my dreams of becoming an astronaut and ever going to Mars. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 09, 2025
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Oct 13, 2025
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Oct 09, 2025
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Hardcover
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3
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| 0063356589
| 9780063356580
| 0063356589
| 3.83
| 160,714
| Jun 11, 2024
| Jun 11, 2024
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it was amazing
| She would figure it out. Because it was impossible that there was no solution. People had babies all the time and somehow managed it. When a book i She would figure it out. Because it was impossible that there was no solution. People had babies all the time and somehow managed it. When a book is described as "wholly original," I admit it makes me a little bit hesitant. What does that mean? Is it original because it contains the sort of fun heretofore unseen, or is it original because no one was crazy enough to have put such ideas to paper before? Then you throw in a premise that includes OnlyFans and pro wrestling, and well really, what the heck are we even talking about here? But I've been in a reading slump for months now and needed something to shake me out. So I reached for Margo's Got Money Troubles not expecting much, and boy oh boy, did it deliver in every single way. Right off the bat, I was captivated. The first thing I noticed was the writing, how sharp and persuasive and just gosh darn funny it was. I'm trying to think of the last book that made me chuckle so hard, and I'm coming up empty. All that humor in here was the perfect medium through which more serious topics could be tackled and explored without coming across preachy or righteous. And this book did not shy away from serious topics—teenage motherhood, love affair with a teacher, pornography, selling one's body, addiction, and of course, how to make money and a life for yourself and your baby when you have no viable skills. But everything was done with such a subtle hand and delightful tone that you hardly realize you're reading something profound when you're having so much fun. The characters in here were sketched with such acute clarity, it's hard to not take them for real. Margo is exactly the sort of sweet, smart, and spirited character I can love and cheer for. Yes, bad things happened to her, but she doesn't let that get her down. In fact, every side character in here is their own version of loveable, and it makes reading this story even more of a delight from beginning to end. Honestly, this was such an exuberant and feelgood story, one I didn't even know I needed. Looking back on it, I'm still not sure I could properly describe it or put it in a box, just because I've never read anything quite like it before. But I do know it was a hell of an entertaining and insightful read. If you're like me and have been hesitating on this book, just go pick it up. P.S. How is it I've never heard of Rufi Thorpe until now? All her books are going straight onto my TBR. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 02, 2025
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Sep 08, 2025
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Sep 02, 2025
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Hardcover
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4
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| 166807818X
| 9781668078181
| 166807818X
| 4.31
| 380,082
| Mar 04, 2025
| Mar 04, 2025
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it was amazing
| This is it, my moment of reckoning, and in some ways I long for it. If characters make or break a story, then it's easy to see why Broken Country h This is it, my moment of reckoning, and in some ways I long for it. If characters make or break a story, then it's easy to see why Broken Country has stolen so many hearts. I didn't really know what to expect going in. When a book is labeled as both a love story and a thriller, with promises of secrets and love triangles and death, it can easily go off the rails in the hands of the wrong author. It can slip into a soap opera, with drama for drama's sake and emotions for emotion's sake. But thank goodness that didn't happen here. The writing was filled with so much nuance and skill, to fall into the world within was but a foregone conclusion. It took me a few chapters to really get settled, but once I did, I was fully immersed. Every scene felt vividly portrayed, every character sketched in sharp relief. It was as if I was really there, soaring with every joy and suffering through every pain. I can't get over these characters. To say they were likable would perhaps be a step too far, but I did connect with each and every one of them. I could see bits and pieces of myself laid bare on the pages, in the precipice of the characters' decisions and in the overwhelming emotions that drove them there. They rang so true and touched me so deeply, I'm still reeling in the aftermath. I have to take a moment to emphasis just how immersive this story was. Sometimes it feels like that's all I talk about, but that's because for me, it's just about the most important quality in a story. There's nothing worse than reading something that isn't grabbing me, while my mind checks out and tallies up chores I have to do and bills I have to pay. So when I come across a truly immersive story, I get pretty darn excited. The narrative unfolds as a triple timeline. We spend the majority of time in the past and in the leadup to the shooting, and only a little bit of time on the trial. Looking back on it, I can see why the author chose to tell the story the way she did, and it was as effective as it was riveting. A big deal always gets made about twists and turns whenever we're talking about a mystery, so I just want to set expectations correctly. I think if you're a mystery/thriller enthusiastic, you probably won't be that surprised here (and I wasn't). But on the other hand, if you don't read a lot of the genre, then perhaps there will be a few unexpected developments throughout. But no matter which way you land, it doesn't take away from the enjoyment of this story. Phew, that's a lot of praise, and hopefully it hasn't scared you off, if you know what I mean. There is a certain category of books out there that seems to attract effusive compliments from readers and award-giving committees alike, but when you try to read it for yourself, they somehow come across as dull as dishwater. Or even worse, they're trauma porn out to batter your emotions simply for better ratings. But that's not this book. This book is as compulsive and unputdownable as they come, and I dare you not to read it in one go. I think this book set out to achieve the unachievable—to be a love story and a mystery/thriller, a character driven study while being fast-paced, quiet and moving and yet still an utter delight to read—and it somehow managed to achieve them all. What a feat. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 04, 2025
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Jul 08, 2025
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Jul 04, 2025
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Hardcover
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5
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| 1984820702
| 9781984820709
| 1984820702
| 4.30
| 70,095
| Feb 06, 2024
| Feb 06, 2024
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it was amazing
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Well hello there, my new favorite series! Delighted to make your acquaintance! But first, before we go on, a little confession. I'd like to think of my Well hello there, my new favorite series! Delighted to make your acquaintance! But first, before we go on, a little confession. I'd like to think of myself as an equal opportunity book lover. Much as a parent would find it hard to name a favorite child, I would be similarly discomfited at having to point to a favorite genre. And yet, if you were to really press me, I would have to admit—but only after much hemming and hawing—that it's probably the murder mystery that has my heart. It was my first book love way back when, and even after all these decades, I could never really forget that feeling. So anytime I crack open a mystery, I'm instantly a kid again, waiting for the intoxicating rush of sinking my teeth into the enigma of it all and being thoroughly swept away. But in order for it to really count, the story must first and foremost be a proper murder mystery. It must have clues, it must have red herrings, and it must have suspicious characters. And of course, at the helm of it all, it must have the all-important clever sleuth or two, there to uncover all the secrets. And that's exactly what I got here. The Tainted Cup delivers all the goods on its murder mystery, and it does so while also seamlessly fleshing out a whole new fantasy universe. To say I'm impressed doesn't even begin to capture it. It's entirely possible that the kid in me fainted in excitement. From the very first page, I could feel this story sink its claws into me. We are dropped into the thick of things immediately (there's a murder!), and it only gets better from there. There were so many layers to this compelling and confounding mystery, and I couldn't help but don my thinking cap and armchair detect the whole way through. It's clear the characters take inspiration from Sherlock Holmes. And while that can be a bit of a hit or miss for me, I'm happy to report that I totally loved it here. Din and Ana both contain the quirkiness of their inspiration but none of their annoyances, and I found them endearing almost from the get-go. The fantasy world here is a reader's dream, so imaginative and interesting yet so easy to slip into. At times, I almost forgot it's a completely different universe, so vividly was it painted. It's not easy to blend multiple genres together so effortlessly, and I'm always in awe when it happens. And while I wouldn't say you have to enjoy fantasy to read this book, you do have to be a fan of murder mysteries to really appreciate it. Suffice to say, I am obsessed. It's not often a mystery completely captures me, and to hear that this is the first book of a series is the best news ever. I suspect I'll be gobbling up the next book posthaste. P.S. The hardcover edition I got didn't come with a dust jacket. Instead, the cover was printed directly onto the book itself, and I'm so on board with that it's not even funny. I actually harbor a low-grade resentment for dust jackets. They're always getting crinkled and mangled while I'm reading and carrying them about, so I absolutely adore this naked book aesthetic. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 15, 2025
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Apr 22, 2025
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Apr 15, 2025
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Hardcover
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6
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| 0063391147
| 9780063391147
| 0063391147
| 4.01
| 15,587
| Jan 14, 2025
| Jan 14, 2025
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it was amazing
| True storytelling has always been one of the few great things humanity could produce that no automation could. Wow. It is not often I am without w True storytelling has always been one of the few great things humanity could produce that no automation could. Wow. It is not often I am without words, but Death of the Author has left me speechless and astounded. I don't even know how to talk about this book because it isn't like anything else I've ever read. I'm going to try to come at it from a few different angles, so bear with me as I get my thoughts and feelings untangled here. First, the genre. This is the perfect symbiosis of science fiction and contemporary lit. (If you're already thinking to yourself, huh? Yeah, like I said, you haven't seen anything like it before.) We alternate between the story of the writer, Zelu, and the story within the story of the robots, and each is its own riveting tale. Zelu's narrative is instantly arresting. There is a lot going on, so I imagine every reader will bring their own experiences into it and take away something different. Racism, ableism, fame, social media, societal and familial pressure, the immigrant experience in general and the Nigerian American experience in particular were all integrated seamlessly and explored deftly within this compelling narrative. Zelu is so richly drawn, she just leaps off the pages. You don't see many books featuring disabled main characters, so my interests were instantly peaked. Then the more I got to know her, the more dynamic and fierce she became. I wouldn't say she is particularly likable, but she's undeniably fascinating. And this narrative is her journey of formation and transformation, her coming of life, if you will. Then we arrive at my favorite part of the book, and that is the robot story. (Come on now, you know how much I love sci-fi, so you can't possibly be surprised.) I adored every minute of this science fiction journey. It was such a creative tale through and through, embedded with social and political commentary relevant to our times. Every scene felt both captivating and profound, and it evoked such WALL E-esque feelings in me. What does it mean to hold onto humanity when there are no humans left? And can the power of storytelling transcend those who invented it? Those are the questions Ankara the robot faces as she traverses a post-human apocalyptic world to make sense of herself and what's around her. I know a lot of people think science fiction is inaccessible, but to me, the best of this genre always zeroes in on precisely what it means to be human. It encompasses our hopes and dreams, our emotions, our faith, and our will to survive. And so this story does too. With her clear, precise prose, Nnedi Okorafor is able to hold a multitude of emotions within her sentences. They evoke feelings of love and conflict, logic and passion, nostalgia for the past but also hope for the future. To write a story partially from a robot's point of view and to inject so much emotion into the whole thing is nothing short of remarkable. To experience this story and to see the two narrative strands weave back and forth, reflected in each other, as they slowly grow closer and closer, is to watch a master storyteller in action. And that ending, goodness me. I'm going to need many moments (days, weeks, months) to think on it and then think on it some more. You know that feeling you get when you're in the midst of an extraordinary book, where every page causes goosebumps on your arms and tingles to run up and down your spine? And the moment you're done, you just want to go back to page one and start all over again? Well, that's this book right here. More than anything, this pays homage to the power of storytelling. If you're a reader—and surely we all are—then this book comes as close as any to put into words why we read and what stories do for our hearts and our souls. “I feel satisfied, but also not. It reminds me of myself, but it is not about me. I feel like I’ve met those I have never met. I’m thinking things I never thought before. I have many questions. Will you help me understand this?” A singular and audacious tale deserving of all the praise. Surely one not to be missed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 20, 2025
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Feb 24, 2025
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Feb 20, 2025
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Hardcover
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10
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| 1250819342
| 9781250819345
| 1250819342
| 4.15
| 570,453
| May 10, 2022
| May 10, 2022
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it was amazing
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I try to approach books with minimal expectations. After all, there's nothing more disappointing than going into a much-hyped book with glee and comin
I try to approach books with minimal expectations. After all, there's nothing more disappointing than going into a much-hyped book with glee and coming out with vague puzzlement about whether we all read the same book. But try as I may, I often can't help myself. The heart wants what it wants, for why else would I be reading in the first place if not to be blown away? And so I cracked open Hidden Pictures with my usual mix of tempered yet hopeful anticipation, waiting to see which way this book would fall. And I tell you, I knew from almost the very beginning. I was only four pages in when I dropped my library ebook, ran out to my local bookstore, and bought a physical copy so that I could own what I hoped would be a new favorite. And I was right. Talk about a riveting experience. From the first page to the last, this book had me hooked. I didn't just read it, I inhaled it. The pages slipped through my hands and before I knew it, hours had passed. It's exactly the sort of immersiveness I love and crave in a story. There is so much tension in here, my spine tingled from it. It was the perfect mix of spooky (not too much), thrilling (very), and mystery (puzzling), and I just ate it up. The mystery, in particularly, was compelling and fun, and I totally enjoyed armchair detecting along with Mallory as she tried to figure out what was going on. The use of drawings in here has to be a stroke of genius. They are such an integral part of the story and added so much to the spooky ambience. It made it feel like I was reading something special and inimitable. And—let's be honest—even though we're all grownups, I bet we still get pretty excited when we see illustrations in our books, amirite? That isn't to say this book is without flaws. In terms of sheer funness, the first half of the book definitely has the second half beat. That's probably because setting up a story isn't quite the same as finishing it. So as we start to approach the denouement with all of its twists and turns, there was a noticeable change in the vibe of the story. It went from the perfect amount of spine-tingling thrill to more of eyebrow-raising crazy chaos. Which brings me to the question: can a story have too many twists? I think so, and I think that's what happened here. The main mystery is already interesting enough, but I think this book went a bit overboard as it wrapped everything up. The twists piled upon twists at the end started to max out my dopamine receptors, and all I felt was numbness in the face of so much mayhem. But those are minor quibbles in the overall scheme of how much I enjoyed this story. In fact, I had so much fun that if I'm ranking books based solely on that criteria, this would have to be near the top. Just for that alone, and for how memorable it is, it gets all 5 stars from me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ See also, my thoughts on: The Last One at the Wedding ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 25, 2024
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Oct 28, 2024
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Oct 25, 2024
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Hardcover
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12
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| 0593815726
| 9780593815724
| 0593815726
| 3.79
| 15,924
| Jul 02, 2024
| Jul 02, 2024
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it was amazing
| I feared both men and spirits now. I had no allies, only enemies on all sides. A magnificent retelling, The Night Ends with Fire isn't the Mulan le I feared both men and spirits now. I had no allies, only enemies on all sides. A magnificent retelling, The Night Ends with Fire isn't the Mulan legend of your Disney youth, that's for sure. Meilin has grown up under the thumb of her oppressive father all her life. Soon he plans to sell her for her dowry to another violent man who will treat her the same. When war comes to the Three Kingdoms, Meilin seizes her chance and enlists in the army as a man. But as she gains skills and confidence and the power of a spirit, she begins to wonder if her duplicity will hold and how far she's really willing to go to secure her freedom. Let me just gush for a second here. I had such an amazing time with this story. It's exactly the sort I adore, with a badass heroine and a high stakes conflict where everything is on the line. There is no easy victory, only hard choices, and every character is some shade of morally gray. I feel like Disney's Mulan was a bit too goody two-shoes (as is typical of Disney), so I'm really glad this book turned that on its head. Meilin certainly isn't good through and through. Instead, she must balance her desire for freedom and power with her duty to her kingdom and her love for her family. There was a rawness and courage to Meilin that makes it easy to like her and relate to her, even if I didn't always understand or agree with her decisions. In fact, it's not just Meilin's character that's interesting and complex. It's almost every character in this book. Their moral ambiguity is a large part of why they come across as real and interesting. There is no straightforward path when it comes to war, no high road to take on the way to victory. There is only bloodshed and sacrifice and death, and this tale certainly doesn't shy away from that. The writing in here is evocative and easy to fall into. I feel like I was sucked in from the very first page. To me, there is no higher compliment and no greater quality in a book than immersiveness, and this story has it in spades. I wanted to gobbled it up but also savor it slowly so that I didn't reach the end too soon. This is categorized as romantasy, and I would say it's mostly fantasy with just a bit of romance sprinkled in, exactly how I like it. The fantasy world is vivid and easy to grasp without a lot of complex worldbuilding. And the light romance should appeal to readers who aren't big fans of it or don't care for lots of explicit scenes. One interesting thing to note are the names in here. When you translate names between different languages, you have the choice of going phonetically or contextually. Phonetically is generally considered more authentic, but you lose the meaning behind the names. Here, the author chose to do a mix of both. While at first it was a little odd to have names in pinyin like "Meilin" next to "Sky" and "Sparrow", I did grow to appreciate that it gave context where otherwise there would be none and helped to distinguish the characters for an English-speaking audience. Same could also be said for including some Chinese phrases mixed in in an English book. When the meaning is unclear, the author often put the pinyin and the English side-by-side, so that really the phrase is duplicated. I can see the purists getting up in arms over it, claiming that it's sufficient just to include the pinyin and leave it at that. So what if the audience it's intended for doesn't understand? But that's just silly. While I'm all for authenticity, I'm happy with the balance the author struck so that no one has to miss out. What an exhilarating tale this turned out to be. I originally picked it up because the luminous cover and pretty sprayed edges totally captured my attention, and I wasn't about to pass up a Mulan retelling. While judging a book by its cover doesn't always pay off, it certainly did in this case. My only regret is reaching the end and realizing this isn't a standalone. Now starts the long wait for the sequel. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 20, 2024
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Sep 25, 2024
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Sep 20, 2024
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Hardcover
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13
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| 4.08
| 946,161
| Jul 30, 2024
| Jul 30, 2024
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it was amazing
| She wonders how terrifying it felt . . . looking at the sea, feeling like she was at the very end of it all. She wonders what it was that made her She wonders how terrifying it felt . . . looking at the sea, feeling like she was at the very end of it all. She wonders what it was that made her realize there was somewhere else to go. While The Wedding People wasn't a perfect read for me, it certainly was a darn special one. Phoebe has always wanted to go to the grand Cornwall Inn in Newport, and now she is finally here. But it isn't at all the vacation she spent years dreaming of. For one, she isn't going with her husband because he is no longer her husband. For another, she didn't bring any luggage because, well, you'll have to read the book for that. And just as she has resigned herself to her decision, she unexpectedly meets the wedding people, all there to attend a week-long celebration. Soon she is swept up in their exuberance and drama, and just maybe this is the vacation she was meant to take after all. This is definitely one of those books you read for the journey, not for the outcome. It's pretty clear right from the beginning where this story is going to go, because how else would you have a story at all? To follow Phoebe as she meets these strangers, see how they touch her life at exactly the moment she needs it, while she in turn touches theirs, brings a lump to my throat and a flutter to my heart. There is something so inherently loveable and relatable about Phoebe, even if we have not all suffered the exact same terrible setbacks in life that she has. Her candidness and vulnerability seems like a breath of fresh air, inviting the reader into her heart and her mind, and we have no choice but to follow along. No doubt Phoebe has been through a lot, more than anyone can be expected to endure. And yet, there is a quiet bravery and courage in how she approaches her life and in how the author chose to portray her. I can see how at the hands of a lesser wordsmith, this story could've easily turned maudlin or preachy, but no such fears here. For a story about such sad topics, I felt remarkably buoyant and hopeful while reading this. There was so much heart and humor in here, I was often nodding and laughing along, surprised at all the little nuggets of wisdom and joy to be gleamed from these pages. If I were someone who marked up books (which I would never, the sacrilege!), I suspect I would've used up an entire highlighter trying to capture all the worthy lines. I mentioned this wasn't a perfect read for me because while I particularly loved the beginning and the end, I did feel the middle sagged a bit. At times, it was a little overly long and meandering, with dialogue that was a bit too clever and may be verging on glib. And yet, the story continued to draw me in, even if the pacing wasn't quite even throughout. I will say, I think this is a story best enjoyed with a reader's full and undivided attention. Often it feels like there were a multitude of things going on at the same time—the rapid-fire dialogue on the surface, the emotions underneath, and the wisdom to be sussed out if looked carefully. Unfortunately, it's hard for me to find solid chunks of uninterrupted reading time nowadays, so the book did lose some of its potency for me read in bits and pieces, a few lines at a time, especially in the middle there. But that's really my bad and not the story's fault. I feel like the most resonant books are always the ones that address the human spirit—its unfailing desire to endure, to belong, to love and be loved, and to find meaning. And if you can sprinkle in a dash of humor along the way, all the better. Well, if that's the case, then one cannot ask for a better story than this. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 24, 2024
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Sep 2024
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Aug 24, 2024
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||||
11
| 
| 0525434240
| 9780525434245
| 0525434240
| 4.33
| 11,306
| Jun 06, 2023
| Jun 11, 2024
|
it was amazing
| This is not planet Earth as we found it. This is a new place—a fire planet we have made. A detailed investigation into all that transpired during t This is not planet Earth as we found it. This is a new place—a fire planet we have made. A detailed investigation into all that transpired during the record-breaking Fort McMurray Fire, in which almost 100,000 people were forced to flee in a single afternoon, as well as a historical and scientific exploration of how we got to this point and where we will go from here, Fire Weather is as essential as it is eye-opening. Going into this, I'd like to think I was fairly well-versed on current events, especially on anything weather-related. And of course I knew about global warming and climate change; I don't live under a rock, after all. But when it came to grasping the nitty gritty of exactly what all that entails, I admit I was a little bit hazy. So this book is exactly what I needed to become crystal clear on this topic. It sits right at the intersection of current affairs, science, and history, all topics that interest me about our world. And I found it to be an absolutely engrossing read, one that as it went on, became harder and harder for me to put down. We start off with a brief look into the history of fossil fuels, as well as how Fort McMurray became a petroleum boom town surrounded by boreal forest. Then the book shifts into a deep dive of the Fort McMurray Fire, and let me tell you, it is as harrowing and thrilling of a tale as any I've ever read. The mechanics of this fire were almost heretofore unseen, its destructive properties so vast and ferocious, it spawned its own weather systems and was not truly extinguished for more than a year. The city and the surrounding landscape had become something akin to a fire planet—not a biome but a “pyrome” whose purpose was not to support life but to enable combustion. But the irony is that Fort McMurray would not have existed as a city if not for its industry of extracting and producing fossil fuels. And while it's this industry that had made it into a boom town, it also simultaneously helped to shape the climate into one that supported and sustained the fire that eventually razed the city to the ground. But the author doesn't just stop at reporting on the fire. He takes that event and ties it to history and science, and shows us the future in store for us if we choose to continue our destructive love affair with fossil fuels. The amount of research that went into this book must have been staggering, as is the author's vision and ability to tie it all together into a cohesive narrative that both informs and astounds. Reading this book often left me in chills. Vaillant has a way with words that is not only illuminating in the way of nonfiction, but also evocative and emotionally resonant in the way that only the best of fiction can achieve. And the result is nothing short of remarkable and sobering. It is almost unbearable to consider that our reckoning with industrial CO2 is only in its infancy, and that future generations will bear this burden far more heavily than we do now. The juxtaposition of the details of a wildfire side-by-side with a study of climate change is a masterful stroke, as is the choice to go with the Fort McMurray Fire in particular. This combination, which examines climate change from both the micro and macro levels, really hits home the symbiotic relationship humankind has developed with fossil fuels and underscores the positive feedback loop we have created, through negligence at best and willful greed at worst, that is currently propelling us towards a future none of us want to see. The message isn't all negative though. Yes, we are past the point of no return and our planet will never go back to the way it was before, but our total annihilation isn't a foregone conclusion yet. There is still hope, if we can only make the hard choices now and pivot in time. And so this book, more than anything, is a warning and a call to action. The current moment is the greatest challenge humanity has faced since we (almost) mastered fire. This time, it is not fire we have to master, but ourselves. If we fail this test, there will be another one, and another after that, but each time the stakes will be higher and the price of failure steeper. Every once a while, I come across a nonfiction read so profound, so staggering in its scope and so clear in its view, I feel like I'm walking away with essential knowledge of the world. And so this book does exactly that. It is timely, insightful, and surely a must-read as we approach yet another hottest year of yet another hottest decade on record. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 17, 2024
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Oct 08, 2024
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Jul 17, 2024
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Paperback
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14
| 
| 1250266017
| 9781250266019
| 1250266017
| 3.99
| 26,969
| Feb 13, 2024
| Feb 13, 2024
|
it was amazing
|
Exquisite and mesmerizing, The Fox Wife kept me enchanted from the very first moment to the very last. Told through the alternating perspectives of Bao Exquisite and mesmerizing, The Fox Wife kept me enchanted from the very first moment to the very last. Told through the alternating perspectives of Bao, an aging investigator with a penchant for sniffing out the truth, and Snow, a mysterious lady on a quest to avenge the death of her child, this story sits at the irresistible intersection of historical fiction, mystery, and folklore. Secrets and questions abound in here. Who are these characters? What do they want? And how do their paths cross through so many years and miles of tribulations? Add to that a main character who is not quite human, as well as the singular backdrop of the wintery world of Manchuria during the last years of the Qing dynasty, and the scene is set for a tale unlike any I've come across before. I'm always drawn towards folklore, and the hallmark of a good one is the seamless blending of the real and the fantasy. You don't want to get mired in the weeds of the how's and why's of this slightly altered world, but you also don't want to just be dropped in the middle of what feels like an artificial construct. And this story achieves that balance flawlessly. With so much of the story riding on its animal characters, there's the fear that it can come across contrived or, even worse, silly. But the foxes in here feel so real, as if these creatures really do live in our world, coexisting among us in disguise and leaving havoc but also wonder in their wake. In fact, the portions of the story told from Snow's perspective were the most evocative, and I found her to be vivid and compelling. Snow's quest to avenge her dead child struck something in me. The quiet and reflective prose that Yangsze Choo so deftly wields adds this soft dignity to Snow's plight, and the end result is so emotionally resonant, I felt it deep within my heart. Her grief and anger were so raw and sharp, yet her continued strength in the face of such tragedy makes her the sort of strong female character I love and cheer for. One of the most surprising and delightful additions in here were all the little nuggets of fox wisdom. Of course if the world were seen through the eyes of an animal, their life experiences and their way of thinking would be different from ours, resulting in unique insights. And these little morsels were dispensed at the most pertinent times, leaving me nodding and chuckling along at their undeniable wisdom and humor. When I finish a book, there are two distinct feelings I can have. Either I'm happy to be done and excited to move on to something else, or I feel a sense of melancholy that I've reached the end of a magical journey and there's no more. And this book falls squarely in the latter. I could've easily gobbled up another 400 pages of this and it still wouldn't have been enough. What an epic and memorable tale Yangsze Choo has crafted. The story itself often speaks of foxes beguiling humans into falling in love with them, yet I can't help but feel as if it were the story that has cast a spell on me, and I were the one who was beguiled all along. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 2024
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May 06, 2024
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May 01, 2024
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Hardcover
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17
| 
| 1649374046
| 9781649374042
| 1649374046
| 4.57
| 3,405,556
| May 02, 2023
| May 02, 2023
|
it was amazing
| "Decide, Violet. Are you going to die a scribe? Or live as a rider?" Oh, this is good. I see now why y'all love it so much. If Fourth Wing were a dr "Decide, Violet. Are you going to die a scribe? Or live as a rider?" Oh, this is good. I see now why y'all love it so much. If Fourth Wing were a drug, I'd be an addict. It grabbed me so thoroughly from the very first moment and refused to let go. I was fully immersed, I didn't want to sleep, didn't want to eat. I just wanted to inhale it as fast as I could. And honestly, isn't this why we read, for this exact feeling? The action begins right on the first page and never lets up. There was no onerous worldbuilding, no endless backgrounds or introductions. We just seamlessly slip into the world of Navarre and Violet Sorrengail. Every time I get the itch to read fantasy, the one thing that holds me back is how much worldbuilding I would have to endure just to get to the good parts. But no such issues here. The good part starts right at the beginning. Is this the most original story? No. Is this the most well written? Also no. (Don't kill me for saying that, you rabid fans.) In fact, the dialogue has me cringing at times, with its penchant for f-bombs as emphasis and its often basic but slightly pompous back and forth that only teenagers can pull off. I guess in that way, it is true to its characters since they're all not much older than teenagers. But slight criticisms aside, this story is executed to perfection. It takes several well-trodden tropes and not only cohesively blends them together, but also manages to squeeze every ounce of entertainment out of them along the way. And I'm not above being entertained. This is my first real foray into the romantasy genre that's got everyone aflutter. And I can see the appeal. Fantasy is a bit of an adrenaline rush and so is romance, so blending the two together is really the perfect symbiosis. Of course you'd want your hero to fight hard in a war between good and evil. And it totally makes sense that they would love hard too if they could die any day. And if the object of desire is one's enemy instead of one's friend? Even better. I'm a little late to the Fourth Wing party, and there's good reason. I was certain this was a duology (don't ask me why I thought this), so I figured if I just held off a little bit, I could bam my way through both books without having to stop and deal with the inevitable anguish of waiting for the next book. Well, the joke's on me because this is actually a five-parter. So lots of waiting will be had by me. As a consolation, at least I can dive straight into Iron Flame. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ See also, my thoughts on: #2. Iron Flame #3. Onyx Storm ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 10, 2023
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Nov 19, 2023
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Nov 10, 2023
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Hardcover
| |||||||||||||
19
| 
| 125021744X
| 9781250217448
| 125021744X
| 3.90
| 97,655
| Apr 25, 2023
| Apr 25, 2023
|
it was amazing
| You are a dream. A hope. A remembrance of what we once were. Of course this story completely slayed me. I should've known better than to doubt. I t You are a dream. A hope. A remembrance of what we once were. Of course this story completely slayed me. I should've known better than to doubt. I thought I'd already found a favorite from T.J. Klune in The House in the Cerulean Sea and it would have been impossible to top that. But here comes a story that I love just as much, if not more. On the surface, In the Lives of Puppets seems simple enough. It's a tale about a boy and his father and some robots, and they go on an adventure together. But the more I read, the more I realized it is so much more. If ever there was a story about what it means to be human, this is it. It's an ode to our affinity for love and friendship, as well as a celebration of our flaws and quirks. And it does so with humor and heart, alternating between making me chuckle and filling me with joy. Of course humor is subjective, but the blend of innocent and naughty in here totally worked for me. It brought a spark of levity to an otherwise very sweet story. Klune did a wonderful job with the science fiction elements, taking an interesting premise and building it into something fascinating and thought-provoking. Often with speculative fiction, either we don't get enough explanation and so the whole thing feels vague, or we get too much explanation and you get mired in the how's and why's. But Klune struck it just right, and the sci-fi elements end up feeling natural and wholly believable. It did take me a little bit to get into the story, so don't be discouraged if you don't find it riveting right off the bat. Like any good fable, the first 100 pages or so introduces us to the cast of characters and their circumstances. It builds up slowly and easily, all the while feeling quite cozy. But then we get to the main conflict, and I was hooked. I've been trying to put my finger on exactly why T.J. Klune's tales feel so special, and I've finally figured it out. It's because reading them makes me feel like a kid again, stepping into a magical world where you can cheer on the good guys as they triumph over the forces of evil. Along the way, you fall in love with the characters and their world, and it feels like you are really there, immersed in the wonder of it all. As a reader, every time I pick up a book, this is the experience I'm hoping for. To have a story sink into your thoughts and wrap itself around your heart and leave you discombobulated afterwards, there's no other feeling like it in the world. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ See also, my thoughts on: The House in the Cerulean Sea Under the Whispering Door ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 20, 2023
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Jul 25, 2023
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Jun 20, 2023
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Hardcover
| |||||||||||||
20
| 
| 4.04
| 321,471
| Feb 22, 2022
| Nov 08, 2022
|
it was amazing
|
Oh my word! Is cozy fantasy a thing? Because I absolutely need more of this in my life! I don't know what I expected going in. The cover would have me Oh my word! Is cozy fantasy a thing? Because I absolutely need more of this in my life! I don't know what I expected going in. The cover would have me thinking it's some sort of Dungeons and Dragons fanfic. But I don't know anything about the game, so I imagined this wouldn't be my jam. Ha, was I wrong. Viv is tired of being a bounty hunter and is hanging up her sword. The orc is settling down to the quiet life, opening a coffee shop in the city of Thune. But can she really leave her previous life behind and find success and a new home, especially in a city where she is a complete stranger and no one even knows what coffee is? Ah, this story! It's just brimming with joy and heart on every page. To read it is to be enveloped in the gentlest, warmest of hugs. You don't have to be an orc or bounty hunter to fully appreciate the themes in here—of starting anew, finding yourself and a place to belong, and opening your heart to never thought-of possibilities. It's such a core part of the human experience, and this book captured a most lovely rendition of it. But to say this story is cozy doesn't mean it's boring. To the contrary, there is excitement and tension aplenty, with all the right components to have me turning the pages as fast as I could. I wanted to gulp it down, but also to savor it slowly. I couldn't think of a single thing I didn't enjoy in here, from the characters to the plot to the writing. I can totally see why this book has gotten all the hype, and I can't recommend it enough. Now I know what you're thinking: But Yun, I don't read stories about orcs or hobs or gnomes. Well, neither do I, and look where I am. Obviously, if you only enjoy tales of sadness and misery, this book isn't for you. But if you want something truly heartwarming and delightful, then this is not to be missed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 10, 2023
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Apr 22, 2023
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Apr 10, 2023
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||||
21
| 
| 0385545681
| 9780385545686
| 0385545681
| 4.54
| 133,455
| Apr 13, 2021
| Apr 13, 2021
|
it was amazing
|
Sometimes I think I've seen it all. Certainly as a reader of fiction, I think I've read it all. But then a nonfiction book comes along, and the true t
Sometimes I think I've seen it all. Certainly as a reader of fiction, I think I've read it all. But then a nonfiction book comes along, and the true tale within is so gripping, so abhorrent, as to blow all those made up stories out of the water. I'd previously read a few books and countless articles on the Opioid Crisis, so I'm not new to the subject. But Empire of Pain approaches from a different angle, focusing on the Sackler family who owned and ran Purdue Pharma. Through their insatiable greed and morally repugnant actions, they got millions of people addicted to OxyContin and hundreds of thousands killed. This is an unflinching look at their history and their legacy. From the very first page, I was riveted. The central story here is a well-known one at this point: how the Sackler-owned Purdue Pharma, at the behest of the family, aggressively marketed OxyContin as the non-addictive drug of choice for pain management. When evidence started emerging of its highly addictive properties, the family went on to obfuscate this knowledge from the public and the government, effectively contributing to the emergence of the Opioid Crisis. But this is more than just a story about Purdue and OxyContin. The book captures three generations of Sacklers, going all the way back to when the three brothers Arthur, Mortimer, and Raymond first started making money and building up the family name. To see how they approached their early businesses and their philosophy towards profit and philanthropy is to understand how Purdue eventually became the monster it did. But the fault doesn't reside entirely with one family and the book is careful to provide a nuanced portrayal of that. No doubt there was plenty of blame to go around. They had help from many different corners, including the FDA who gave their seal of approval on OxyContin, shady salespeople and doctors, and plenty of government officials who looked the other way. This easily could've become a story bogged down in the weeds, with too much detail and not enough interest. But it didn't. It was a fascinating read from beginning to end, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. It really speaks to the author's abilities that he was able to take such a complicated and convoluted narrative and turn it into a tale that is both cohesive and intensely compelling. This is investigative nonfiction at its best. It goes behind the scenes and lifts the veils to one of the biggest tragedies in modern American history. Though it was hard to read and stomach at times, I couldn't look away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 06, 2022
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Nov 12, 2022
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Nov 06, 2022
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Hardcover
| |||||||||||||
22
| 
| 0593158687
| 9780593158685
| 0593158687
| 4.20
| 702,460
| Aug 30, 2022
| Aug 30, 2022
|
it was amazing
| It sends a tiny thrill through me . . . staring up at a mountain I have yet to scale, each match a step toward the top. It has been so long since I It sends a tiny thrill through me . . . staring up at a mountain I have yet to scale, each match a step toward the top. It has been so long since I have felt the perfect ache of climbing. I'm always drawn towards stories about overcoming adversity at great odds and achieving the impossible through sheer determination and hard work. So is it any surprise that this story totally grabbed ahold of me and refused to let go? Carrie Soto, the greatest player in tennis history, knows the joy and sacrifice of victory. Trained by her father since she was a toddler, she holds the record for the most Grand Slams to her name. But that achievement has come at great personal cost. When a new crop of upstarters threatens her legacy, she is left with no choice. Now she is coming out of retirement to defend her record, working with her father one last time to show herself and the world what she is capable of. What an absolutely captivating story this was. From the very first page, I was mesmerized both by the well-drawn characters as well as the compelling narrative. Yes, this is fiction, but it sure doesn't feel like it. Instead, it feels like a piece of real tennis history brought to life, and we the readers are there to witness it in all of its glory and heartache. One aspect of this story that surprised me is that the character of Carrie Soto isn't altogether likable. She's brash, confident to the point of arrogance, and often rude to all who stands in her way. She isn't always in it for the love of the game; rather, she wants to win at all cost, even if the price is her own happiness. But it really speaks to Reid's strong storytelling abilities that such a character doesn't take anything away from my enjoyment of the book. In fact, Carrie's flaws make her portrayal and her eventual personal growth that much more compelling. There is a lot of tennis in this book. And I absolutely lapped it up. Even as someone who doesn't play the game (though I do occasionally watch a match on tv), I found all the tennis jargon in here easy to follow. In fact, reading it reminds me of how riveting this game can be, and I was impressed with Reid's ability to capture not just the grueling physical aspects but also its mental facets as well. But this book isn't just about competing and winning. In true Taylor Jenkins Reid fashion, it's bursting with heart and soul. It shines a stark spotlight on what it means to be human, to want to strive to be the best you can be, and to achieve whatever you set your heart to. It reminds us that hard work matters, and that age ain't nothing but a number. But it also shows that it's okay to fail, that letting go is sometimes the right thing to do, and that greatness isn't always measured by what everyone else says. Carrie's father compares her to Achilles, and that feels particularly apt. Achilles craved glory and greatness, and he worked hard towards it his whole life. He finally achieves all that he dreams of during the Trojan War, but it comes at a steep price. And so Carrie does too. She is a warrior of the highest caliber, training every moment of her life, for that one moment of glory so that she will go down in history. What a story! It's exciting and uplifting and inspirational, but it never loses sight of its heart. In fact, that is a hallmark of Taylor Jenkins Reid's recent books. And it shows that she is still a master of her craft, taking us on literary journeys so intimate and exhilarating, we can't help but feel they're real. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ See also, my thoughts on: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Daisy Jones & The Six Malibu Rising ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 08, 2022
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Oct 10, 2022
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Oct 08, 2022
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||
31
| 
| 0593157532
| 9780593157534
| 0593157532
| 3.81
| 119,692
| Jul 07, 2022
| Jul 12, 2022
|
it was amazing
| I dreamed of who I used to be. This right here. This is what I've been waiting for. With Upgrade, Blake Crouch has I dreamed of who I used to be. This right here. This is what I've been waiting for. With Upgrade, Blake Crouch has finally written a successor worthy of Dark Matter. You might think that I have some sort of rigorous, scientific method for determining what makes a 5-star read for me. But honestly, it's just a feeling. I get this tingle that goes from the back of my head all the way down my spine. And when I feel it, I know that I've found something special and worth savoring. And that's what happened here. When I think of a great science fiction story, I think of something bold and imaginative, capable of surprising me and challenging my preconceived notions, one that reaches to the root of what it means to be human, and takes us on a journey of where we've been and where we're going. And this story is all that and more. Just like most Blake Crouch novels, this book feels accessible, even to those readers who don't normally indulge in the genre. And a large reason is because it reads like a thriller. It's relentlessly paced and utterly riveting, and I can't imagine trying to put it down once I've started. Every chapter held surprises and revelations, and even when I thought I was getting an inkling of where it might be headed, it still managed to prove me wrong. While the science in here is interesting, I suspect most readers will connect with it for far more reasons than that. It seamlessly blends a whole bunch of interesting and timely topics, from philosophy to ethics, evolution to the environment, that elevates it from just a story that passes through one's mind to a story that's truly arresting and memorable. I've noticed that Crouch is particularly adept at putting the reader in the shoes of the main character. We feel his pain, understand his choices, and appreciate the difficulty of his dilemmas. And it makes me wonder, what would I do when given such impossible choices? Would I have what it takes to sacrifice everything to do what needs to be done? I'd like to think so, and it's definitely an interesting thought to contemplate. A word of caution here. I normally include a small tease of the story I'm reviewing, but you'll notice I haven't included any such information here. It's because even that little bit feels like a spoiler. In fact, I've been careful not to allude to anything that happens in the entire story, and that's on purpose. I went into this completely blind and absolutely loved the initial pages as it set up the premise and got into the heart of the story. There were so many things that surprised me and those reveals contributed so much to the delightful experience of reading this book. After I finished, I read the blurb on the back, and it pretty much gives it all away. So my suggestion is to skip the blurb altogether and just go right into it. You'll be glad you did. Ever since Blake Crouch came out with Dark Matter, I've been waiting patiently for another book of his that will grab me just as much. (Recursion wasn't it, unfortunately.) I wanted another that would work on so many levels: a riveting and unputdownable thriller on the surface, but also thought-provoking and scientifically intriguing, and relatable to every reader even though the premise is so outrageous. And it seems my patience has finally paid off. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ See also, my thoughts on: Dark Matter Recursion ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 15, 2022
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May 18, 2022
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May 15, 2022
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Hardcover
| |||||||||||||
30
| 
| 0063045656
| 9780063045651
| 0063045656
| 3.90
| 704,559
| Jul 13, 2021
| Aug 19, 2021
|
it was amazing
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Every time I'm about to embark on a Tessa Bailey book, I'm just filled with glee. She has always spoken my love language, and with this Bellinger Sist
Every time I'm about to embark on a Tessa Bailey book, I'm just filled with glee. She has always spoken my love language, and with this Bellinger Sisters series, I feel like she's really hit the top of her game. Why did it take me so long to get to this book? I kept putting it off because I'd seen some mixed reviews and was afraid I wouldn't enjoy it. But of course Tessa Bailey wouldn't let me down. I should've known better than to doubt her. Piper is a wealthy socialite who passes her days with shopping, partying, and attention-hogging on the internet. But after a publicity stunt goes wrong, her stepfather cuts off her funding. She's forced to go to Westport to find her roots and her purpose in life. But what does a girl like her know about fitting in at this small fishing town? Soon though, she starts to understand what makes Westport so special, including a certain gruff, hardworking sea captain. Can we take a moment to talk about how adorable the Piper and Brendan pairing is? Piper appears a bit frivolous at first with her glamorous exterior, but underneath is an optimistic gal with a heart of gold. And Brendan is clearly besotted with her, though he tries hard to hide it beneath his grouchy, reticent demeanor. How cute is that! Honestly, I just can't get enough of the grumpy/sunshine trope. While a lot of romances skirt around the fact that the female lead might be high-maintenance, I love how this book puts it front and center. Both Piper and Brendan not only acknowledge it, but it's a big part of their attraction to each other. She wants nice things and he wants to give them to her. While I'm a pretty low-maintenance girl myself, it still makes my heart go pitter-patter to think of a lover who wants to work hard to keep their beloved's affection. As the story progressed, I loved the focus on Piper taking the time to discover who she really is and finding the meaning that she so desperately craves. The backstory of why she is in Westport and all the supporting characters add so much heart to this whole thing. Change is hard, and it's heartwarming to see both Piper and Brendan change and meet in the middle to make their relationship work. This is the fifth book by Tessa Bailey I've read, and I've loved them all. You'd think by this point, her stories would start to feel old and stale, but no. Each of her books feels unique, with its interesting characters and fun storylines. They just draw me in and I'm always riveted. Since this is a Tessa Bailey, of course it comes with a public service announcement regarding the steam factor. Please watch out, especially if it's your first one by her. She definitely isn't shy about including explicit, open-door scenes, even though the cute cover will have you thinking otherwise. No doubt about it, this was a delightful experience from beginning to end, with enough sizzle to leave a permanent sear on my heart. In fact, of all the Tessa Bailey's I've read so far, this has got to be my favorite. It totally spoke to me, and I loved every character and every moment. And there's just enough teaser in here that I can't wait to read Hannah and Fox's story. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ See also, my thoughts on: Hook, Line, and Sinker Window Shopping My Killer Vacation Hot & Hammered: Fix Her Up Love Her or Lose Her Tools of Engagement ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 10, 2022
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Apr 13, 2022
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Apr 10, 2022
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Paperback
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24
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| 4.28
| 1,750,895
| Mar 31, 2022
| Apr 05, 2022
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it was amazing
| Imagine if all men took women seriously . . . When you come across that perfect read, at what point do you realize? For me, it was from the very fi Imagine if all men took women seriously . . . When you come across that perfect read, at what point do you realize? For me, it was from the very first page of Lessons in Chemistry. Honestly, who does Bonnie Garmus think she is, coming in here and writing a book that completely speaks to me? And on top of that, it's her debut. Well, just knock me over with a feather too while you're at it, why don't you! Elizabeth Zott is a chemist in the 1960s. The problem is, she is the only one who views herself that way. Her male colleagues cannot get past the fact that she's a woman, and treat her more as a secretary and doormat, acknowledging her only long enough to steal her work. That is, until Calvin Evans, another brilliant chemist, comes along and really sees all that she is capable of. But life is unexpected, and so a few years later, Elizabeth is somehow the host of a cooking show. But in her heart, she still desires to be truly seen as a chemist. You guys know how much I love strong female characters, and Elizabeth Zott is all that and more. She's fearless in the face of adversity, she stays true to herself, and she never lets others intimidate her into being less than all she can be. In other words, she is my hero. It's not just Elizabeth who warms my heart. This story has the most wonderful collection of supporting characters. They add so much color and spirit to the whole thing. I wanted to hug them all. And if you're an animal lover of any sort, just be ready to have your heart burst into a million ooey gooey pieces. In fact, Six-Thirty might just be my favorite literary dog of all time. The writing is so witty and brilliant. There's a zing to it that makes it feel zippy and wholly original. I couldn't stop laughing and I couldn't put it down. Usually I can't wait to reach the end of a book so I can check it off my long TBR and move onto the next. But I wanted this to go and go and never end. I tried to savor every moment, but I ended up devouring it. What an absolute delight this was, from the very first moment to the last. It possesses all the hallmarks of the very best stories. It made me laugh, feel, think, and wonder. It filled me with joy and buoyed my spirits. It gave me everything I wanted and everything I didn't even know to ask for. So many books come and go that often a true gem ends up buried in the deluge. Please don't let this one pass you by. Go read it. You'll be glad you did. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 31, 2022
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Apr 03, 2022
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Mar 31, 2022
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Hardcover
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23
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| B0FSKPZRGZ
| 4.08
| 484,330
| May 01, 2006
| Nov 11, 2014
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it was amazing
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I'm going to call it right now. Even though I only just finished book one, I'm certain The Three-Body Problem will go down as my favorite sci-fi serie
I'm going to call it right now. Even though I only just finished book one, I'm certain The Three-Body Problem will go down as my favorite sci-fi series of all time. This book blew my mind so thoroughly that it leaves only destruction in its wake. Where could Liu Cixin have possibly come up with all of these ideas and concepts? No wonder everyone says this is wildly imaginative. Even a single one of the ideas in here would have sufficed for a book of its own, but to put them all together into a single cohesive epic tale is absolutely jaw-dropping. The pacing is relentless and the surprises just keep coming. In fact, it has more twists and turns than most mysteries and thrillers I've read. Not only is the story utterly riveting, but it's also insightful and thought-provoking, touching upon science, politics, philosophy, and history. I found myself glued to the pages. I wanted to inhale the story as fast as I could, but I had to slow myself down periodically to reread and fully absorb all that the book was trying to tell me. This is my favorite type of science fiction, one that puts science front and center and unabashedly celebrates everything about it. There's no handwaving, no hocus pocus. Every point brought up is eventually explained via actual science in ways that made complete sense. And what ingenious explanations they are, sure to stun and amaze any reader. I found the initial pages, set during the Cultural Revolution, to be enlightening. This was the defining event of my parents' generation, yet they hardly talk about it. How do you put into words the frenzy that overtook a whole country, such that science and learning were denounced, and friends turned on friends, neighbors turned on neighbors? It's like a fever burned through the population, and left famine, trauma, and destruction in its wake. This emotionally fraught experience influences all who went through it, including the characters in this book. With translations, there's always the fear that some vital but intangible part of the story will be lost. And this is especially the case when the two languages in question do not share a common linguistic ancestor, so translating between them is not as simple as one-to-one. In the translator's notes at the end of the book, Ken Liu mentions that he was cognizant of this and tried hard to preserve not only the story, but also the cadence and feel of the Chinese language and culture in his translation. I think he did an excellent job. One thing to note is that the official book blurb is quite short for this story, but in my opinion, even that gives away too much. This is a book best experienced blind, so if you're going to read it, don't look up anything about it ahead of time. What a tremendous way to start the trilogy. My expectations for the remaining two books are sky high, and I'm assured by everyone I know who has already read them that they will be met and exceeded. I have no doubt only goodness awaits me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ See also, my thoughts on: #2. The Dark Forest #3. Death's End The Cretaceous Past ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 28, 2021
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Jan 02, 2022
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Dec 28, 2021
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Hardcover
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my rating |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
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| 4.29
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it was amazing
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Nov 25, 2025
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Nov 21, 2025
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2
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| 3.68
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it was amazing
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Oct 13, 2025
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Oct 09, 2025
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3
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| 3.83
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it was amazing
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Sep 08, 2025
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Sep 02, 2025
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4
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| 4.31
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it was amazing
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Jul 08, 2025
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Jul 04, 2025
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5
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| 4.30
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it was amazing
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Apr 22, 2025
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Apr 15, 2025
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6
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| 4.01
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it was amazing
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Feb 24, 2025
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Feb 20, 2025
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10
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| 4.15
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it was amazing
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Oct 28, 2024
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Oct 25, 2024
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12
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| 3.79
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it was amazing
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Sep 25, 2024
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Sep 20, 2024
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13
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| 4.08
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it was amazing
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Sep 2024
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Aug 24, 2024
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11
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| 4.33
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it was amazing
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Oct 08, 2024
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Jul 17, 2024
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14
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| 3.99
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it was amazing
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May 06, 2024
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May 01, 2024
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17
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| 4.57
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it was amazing
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Nov 19, 2023
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Nov 10, 2023
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19
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| 3.90
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it was amazing
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Jul 25, 2023
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Jun 20, 2023
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20
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| 4.04
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it was amazing
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Apr 22, 2023
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Apr 10, 2023
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21
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| 4.54
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it was amazing
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Nov 12, 2022
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Nov 06, 2022
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22
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| 4.20
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it was amazing
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Oct 10, 2022
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Oct 08, 2022
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31
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| 3.81
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it was amazing
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May 18, 2022
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May 15, 2022
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30
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| 3.90
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it was amazing
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Apr 13, 2022
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Apr 10, 2022
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24
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| 4.28
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it was amazing
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Apr 03, 2022
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Mar 31, 2022
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23
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| 4.08
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it was amazing
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Jan 02, 2022
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Dec 28, 2021
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