Let me start by saying I will continue to pick up whatever Sidney Karger lays down because his stories are thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis close to turning me into a superfan. Unfortunately this one had a main plot point that simply was not for me.
In this latest release you tag along with Wyatt and Biz on their “Babymoon” while they make their way cross country for the birth of their new baby via surrogate. The problem here is the two’s relationship was already on the rocks on page one and then ONE AND A HALF YEARS LATER they are having a baby while having the exact same problems when in all actuality they should have probably broken up and definitely should have put the babymaking on pause.
I love a road trip and rekindling romance stories, so this would have 100% been my jam if the whole baby thing wouldn’t have been a part of it. A baby doesn’t save a relationship and they should not be brought in to a toxic environment. Having just binged all of Flipping Out recently, these two were reminiscent of . . . .
If you were here a couple of weeks ago for the Great Author Tantrum of ’24 when apparently I should have been drawn and quartered for faili
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If you were here a couple of weeks ago for the Great Author Tantrum of ’24 when apparently I should have been drawn and quartered for failing to read/review an advanced copy within a week of receiving it, then maybe I should be burned at the stake for this one since it was released in 2021, I received it as an ARC and three years later I just now finally got around to it. And to be 100% honest, I probably wouldn’t have even then if I had not been looking for a murder show to binge on the television and saw this title pop up which led to “hmmmmm, don’t I have a book by that name????” Also? I didn’t even read it. This was my latest “walk ‘n talk” that I finished during my lunch hour just now that I checked out via audio from the library.
But I digress . . . .
I REALLY appreciated the way this was delivered. I’m not a big true crime reader, but this approach to tell the VICTIM’S story with the perpetrator only coming in at the end to wrap up how he was caught and for him to get his comeuppance was such a change of pace.
This story of a serial killer literally didn’t even have a Wikipedia page before the book was written was one that had already been mishandled for eternity, so I appreciated the sensitivity with which it was told. I also “enjoyed” (wrong term, but I’m no tortured poet so you get what you get) the history of the hole-in-the-wall sort of gay bar scene in NYC during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s instead of only ever hearing about the Stonewall Riots, the terror of the AIDS epidemic, and how newfound technology so often cracks the cold case (like the new way of lifting fingerprints here or “23andMe” with the Golden State Killer).
If you are looking for a gory detailed sort of bloodbath serial killer book, this won’t be for you, but I thought it was so well done and the narration was great. Orrrrrrrrr, if you have Max you can simply watch the docuseries.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
If you’re new to my space let me begin with a little recap of my reading style. #1, I hate face covers. #2, I generally don’t read blurbs. I 100% did If you’re new to my space let me begin with a little recap of my reading style. #1, I hate face covers. #2, I generally don’t read blurbs. I 100% did not read a blurb here and was willing to overlook my own opinion about a face cover because ever since I read Luckiest Girl Alive I have been dying to get my hands on a new release by Jessica Knoll.
Which leads to #3, I am an idiot. As soon as I started reading this I was like “hmmmm, they’re straight up naming Florida State as the place where this sorority killer did his killing??? Usually authors tend to name a fictional place.” And then I kept reading and was like “man, this is reading like a true crime story about something that really happened.” BECAUSE IT WAS! Good lord . . . .
If you like serial killer stories and fictionalizations of true crime, this one is not to be missed. It is so quietly powerful with regard to not only the mind of the murderer, but in general with how female victims and witnesses were treated (especially back in the 1970s, but I’m sure still today). And the delivery is matter-of-fact – not preachy or TED talky – it just is what it is. Obviously I had no clue what this was about before (or while) reading, but I was fully invested the entire time.
Here is your friendly reminder that when it comes to a new offering from an author who made your heart crap its pants with their prior releDear Kelly:
Here is your friendly reminder that when it comes to a new offering from an author who made your heart crap its pants with their prior release, don’t forget sometimes . . .
Oh, The Guncle. I mean are there even any words remaining for that piece of feel good perfection? I knew I would be picking up whatever Stephen Rowley was putting down next, but when the comparison was to The Big Chill?????
This was the first time in the history of ever that my library failed me and I wasn’t able to get my hands on a copy immediately upon publication so I did something I NEVER do and ordered the hard copy. And I did it through the Internet Book Store (I know, I know - shame on me, I should have supported a small business, yada, yada, yada) so I could have it delivered to my front door the same day.
And then I read it and . . . well . . . I should have lowered my expectations because I was a little underwhelmed. I loved the premise of having a “funeral” or celebration of life in a time of need rather than when the person has already died and this definitely had the long-time friend reunion-y vibes of The Big Chill. My problem is of multiple aspects (1) I am a well-known wrongreader, (2) I am the reason I can’t have nice things, (3) The Big Chill is maybe my favorite movie of all time and I am CONSTANTLY looking for a book that makes me feel all the things that film makes me feel, and (4) follow ups to really outstanding stories are HARRRRRRRRRD. I loooooooved Jordan, but either didn't connect at all or felt the other characters all fell a little flat and were underdeveloped. I think maybe T.J. Klune is the only who even came close for me with back to back heart exploding hits with Under the Whispering Door that came after the perfect The House in the Cerulean Sea.
Remember this is fake. Remember this is fake. Remember this is fake.
Boyfriend Material is one of (I’m ashamed to report) more than a handful of boRemember this is fake. Remember this is fake. Remember this is fake.
Boyfriend Material is one of (I’m ashamed to report) more than a handful of books I read last year and really loved, but never posted about. I could blame the pandemic, but really it’s just because I’m a twat (this is a British book so it’s A-okay to use that term here). Anyway I love Alexis Hall and have for quite some time so I decided to give this a quick re-read in order to write a "proper" review - which I am obviously not even attempting to write. I’m so happy others have finally discovered what a gem his stories are and that he has finally made it to "mainstream" marketing and Target shelves and whatnot. I highly encourage you all to check out some of his other stuff. Glitterland and Pansies are two I never hesitate recommending. All the Stars for this one as well. Man oh man am I a sucker for a Mr. Darcy/Mark Darcy type and when you add in a fake dating trope and quality mates like Bridget Jones had, well that just equals . . . .
Things to note - this is a fade to black smexytimes sort of delivery (which somehow remains very smexy) so if you like your smut not so smutty you needn't shy away. This takes place in Shoreditch which is apparently my dream place to live because I don't think I've ever given a book less than 4 Stars that has taken place there. And finally, you might need to invest in some adult diapers because this is adorably funny . . . .
“What are you doing?” “I’m not sleeping in a three-piece suit, and meaning no disrespect, I don’t especially want to borrow any of”—he made a circular gesture that encompassed the various piles of crap strewn across my floor—“this.” “That’s fair.” A thought occurred to me. “Hey, does this mean I finally get to meet the V-cut?” He gave a weird little cough. “You will be passing acquaintances at best.” “I’ll take it.” I bounced onto my newly Oliver-approved bed and knelt there, rumpling the duvet, and gazing somewhat shamelessly as Oliver undid his shirt. “Lucien,” he said. “What you’re doing right now looks suspiciously like ogling.” I cupped my hands round my mouth. “Off. Off. Off.” “I’m not a stripper.” “You’re literally stripping right now. I’m just encouraging you.” “What you’re doing is embarrassing me.” He removed the shirt, folded it neatly, realised there was nowhere to put it, and stood there in confusion. But. Oh holy God. You normally had to pay money to see something like that. I mean, we were talking grooves, ridges, just the right amount of hair—fuzzy, not furry—and even a couple of playful little veins snaking up from beneath the waistband of his trousers. Fuck. I wanted to lick him. Double fuck. I suddenly realised I could never ever take my clothes off in front of this man. “What’s the matter now?” asked Oliver. “And where can I put my shirt?” “I…I…I’ll find you a hanger.” And some kind of, I don’t know, beekeeping outfit for me. Something nicely covering....more
So obviously if I enjoy a house on a cover I’m definitely going to be all in when there’s AN ENTIRE CITY on the cover. I have to confess I almost passSo obviously if I enjoy a house on a cover I’m definitely going to be all in when there’s AN ENTIRE CITY on the cover. I have to confess I almost passed this one by after glancing at the synopsis and seeing it was going to be about a former egg who shows up in 100% actual human child form to confront the donor. My brain was saying hell to the nah nah and also . . . .
But the FOMO (as always) won out and I put my name on the library list like Good Morning America was actually going to call me in as a guest on the dang show to talk about this or something. It truly is an illness.
Good news is Skye wasn’t just some rando donor – she had done a pal a personal favor for some much needed cash back in the day and the resulting kid found out about it because she discovered the paperwork. Bad news is – Skye is A LOT. If you can’t deal with an unlikeable character and don’t have the patience to wait forever for a redemption arc, this probably isn’t the book for you. I dug it, though. I thought Skye was so realistic and, without spoiling all the things, I really appreciated her willingness to set boundaries without regard to outward appearances. I mean, she was definitely someone who took “you do you” to a different level for a good chunk of the story, but everyone should have a limit of what they are willing to accept/tolerate and not feel guilty about saying no thank you to toxic individuals/situations – even if they are your family. Her voice was a delight as well. I literally “LOL’d” more than once due to the conversational tone of the storytelling and Skye’s dry delivery. Examples . . . .
I almost get hit by a bright yellow bike that’s covered in I Heart Philly stickers. “Watch it!” the cyclist yells at me as he comes to a hard stop a foot away from me in the bike lane. “YOU watch it!” I yell back, because fuck him and his bike.
This is when I realize I’m still wearing my emergency bra and begin to scream internally. Faye looks at the bra and I can see the horror in her eyes, like: WHY ARE YOU WEARING YOUR GRANDMOTHER’S BRASSIERE? “I…wasn’t expecting this to happen today,” I tell her. “It’s okay,” she says. “It’s coming off now anyway.” She reaches around to unhook the bra. Thing is: Grandma’s bra has one hundred and seventeen clasps. Oh, you thought Meemaw was just going to be out here with a regular-ass bra with a regular-ass number of clasps? You thought Gam-Gam was going to risk her titties not staying perfectly still through a four-hour church service? What if she caught the spirit? You thought she was finna risk her bosoms just falling out all over the place while she was praising Jesus? You. Thought. Wrong.
I forget to comment about this most of the time, but I’m also a sucker for stories where the setting almost becomes a character of its own. And while I’m a Midwestern girl, this brought back plenty of blasts from my pasts. Mainly in the form of . . . .
He is an exception to the rule and his stories don’t make me want to throw my Kindle into a brick wall. He’s also one of the best when it comes to . . . .
Again, often authors attempting to write dialogue phonetically becomes insufferable to me and ruins a potentially good time, but he’s just real good at it. Plain and simple.
I do feel like I need to confess that when it came to television viewing during quarantine, I did seem to miss out on what all of the cool kids were doing and never became a fan of the . . . .
But, as I said before, I love Alexis Hall enough that I didn’t think a story that takes place in a British baking competition would be an issue. I also dig “women’s fiction” or “chick lit” or whatever you want to call it, so I was sure this would be a success.
So what happened???? Well, first off this was very preachy. Let’s just get real. The people who need diversity and equality and what-have-you explained to them would most likely never pick this book up in the first place as soon as they saw “bisexual single mother.” It didn’t take long for Rosaline’s taking offense to nearly everything and over explaining how everyone in the world is apparently a right prick when it comes to being some variation of bigot to grate on my nerves. Especially when she got the googly eyes for a fella who could only be described as . . . . .
It also didn’t help that she jumped right on the bandwagon of fat shaming another member of the competition before she even spoke to her to discover she was actually unlikeable (and a judgey bigot because of course she was).
I understand maybe wanting to dip your wick with a 10 on the bangability scale, but when you’ve spent the entire book talking about how you do everything for your daughter and have put your own plans on the backburner and are a responsible parent 100% of the time you really think this dude is boyfriend material????? Notsamuch.
Not to mention there was A LOT of baking talk (like a lot a lot) and at 440 pages this was waaaaaaaaaay too long for the amount of story to be told. So it ends up as a bit of a flop for me. That’s okay though, because Boyfriend Material and Glitterland and Pansies and a whole slew of others have all been huge winners.
The truth is supposed to set you free, but sometimes it’s not the truth that saves you. It’s the lies.
The jumping off point of this new release (wThe truth is supposed to set you free, but sometimes it’s not the truth that saves you. It’s the lies.
The jumping off point of this new release (which I sure as shit hope is a ginormous bestseller) is the old adage that when the cat’s away, the mouse will play. Oliver has been in a committed relationship with Nathan for years, but when Nathan heads out of town for a conference, Oliver feels like it’s time to . . . .
We're talking glass, steam, bear traps and just when you think the fun is over . . . . Knock knock – Who’s there???? A murdery stranger who tries to strangle you to death!
The only thing I can say about this book is HOLY MOLY . . . .
But I’m telling you, this is a book where it doesn’t even matter. There is zero chance you will see everything that gets thrown at you even if you figure out the basics. This is simply a story where you buckle up, sit back and enjoy the thrill ride. Every Star. ...more
If you take a gander at the rating and “pre-reviews” for this upcoming release you’ll see it’s mainly full of shippers and stans and other words that Boomers like me don’t truly understand. I’m going to go ahead and give this a 3. I thought it did a pretty decent job of tackling coming out and how only the person who is actually coming out should control the hows and whens of that moment happening and also the pressures of being famous and having others in control of the narrative regarding the personal lives of those they represent. And also: DUH, it’s two boys kissing . . . .
I used to read a metric crapton of YA every year, but I’ve kind of fallen into a holding pattern of adult romances and stabby stabs that have taken meI used to read a metric crapton of YA every year, but I’ve kind of fallen into a holding pattern of adult romances and stabby stabs that have taken me out of that genre. When I saw Becky Albertalli had a new release, however, I was all over it, because . . . . .
Only to have it become a defining moment of sorts when it went viral throughout the school and showed she was really not on key like she had believed. That’s when Kate started shying away from the spotlight – taking only ensemble roles in the school plays and musicals. It’s also when the theater kids became her squad and the jocks and cheerleaders became “f boys” (and girls). It’s when she gave up on actual attempts at maybe having a boyfriend and settled for sort of co-dependent/co-crushes with her best friend Anderson. But when their latest crush ends up transferring to their high school things get a little awkward.
Okay so this should 100% become a Netflix movie. I would watch it fifty and eleven times and Noah would obviously be played by . . . .
I mean I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to cast anyone else as a romantic male lead in a teenager rom com at this point.
As for the book? It struggled a little bit. Albertalli received a lot of backlash last year for being “too straight” to write her books. I’m all for representation and own voices, but I am also completely opposed to muting or muffling people’s ideas because they aren’t whatever enough. While this book was supposed to be about Kate, it felt like maybe it didn’t start that way and Anderson became a bit of a cardboard cutout in fear of more fallout. It also didn’t help that there was soooooo much musical talk and they just happened to pick one that isn’t really a fave of mine . . . . .
We take our memories wherever we go, and what’s left are the ones that stick around, and that’s how we make a life.
After four years together Benson a We take our memories wherever we go, and what’s left are the ones that stick around, and that’s how we make a life.
After four years together Benson and Mike find themselves at a crossroads in their relationship. To make the situation even more difficult Mike is getting ready to go to Japan to say his final farewells to his dying father at the same time his mother is coming to the United States and will be staying with Benson.
This made it to a lot of people’s best books of 2020 and I fall on that side of the fence as well. That being said, be warned it may not be a book for you. Spare writing, no quotation marks and simply living in the guys’ respective day-to-day lives so not a ton of action will be a turnoff for many - and that’s perfectly okay....more
It’s not easy to be a fat gay boy in Clover City, Texas, but with the help of supporting parents, an excellent grammy and his twin sister Clementine, Waylan has managed to make it all the way to the end of his senior year. He’s counting down the days when he can shake the dust off from this one horse town and become “Full Waylan” in Austin. But then a video he makes of himself doing a fake audition for a Ru Paul’s Drag Race sort of show gets spread around the school and Waylan discovers he can no longer simply fade into the woodwork for the last few weeks of school – he’s also been nominated for the prom court . . . . in the QUEEN category. There’s only one thing he can do . . . .
If you are familiar with me you know I don’t usually read past the first book in a series. I’m so glad I made an exception to my own rule this go around. This was the perfect send off to a group of kids who I have grown to love over the past several years and fans of the series will love “seeing” all of the familiar faces from the past one last time. And of course no visit to Clover City could be complete without a trip to the Hideaway . . . .
At this point I think it’s fairly safe to say Julie Murphy is YA royalty. She just gets it. It helps that she looks like she’s about 15 herself (ha-ha), but she’s also the bees knees when it comes to writing books about inclusivity that are just matter-of-fact and without some superbadawful things having to happen to the characters. In a year where still so many high school seniors were denied the right of passage which is prom due to ongoing Covid restrictions, she has provided the next best thing in this fictionalized version.
Even though I totally loved A Ladder to the Sky. (Also, nearly 600 pages ain’t usually my jam.) But oh Mylanta. What a story! Cyril is officially my new best friend (to me he was a fictionalized David Sedaris and there is ZERO I will ever not love about that), and while this may not be a book that sucks everyone in, I don’t want to hear about it if it didn’t work for you because lockdown is makin’ me a little stabby and this story made me feel all the feels and now I have a raging book hangover. All the Stars....more
The jumping off point to this story is when Jessa-Lynn finds her daddy has blown his brains out on the specimen table in the family’s taxidermy shop. From there we meet the other members of the family – brother Milo whose wife that left him also happened to be Jessa-Lynn’s girlfriend, Milo’s daughter Lolee (who was pretty much the daughter I’ve never had), his stepson Bastien – back from rehab and a man of dubious means, and their mother – recent widow turned pornographic taxidermy artist. These were my people. What can I say . . . .
Ha! Not really. I’m about as basic as they come. However, I’m also pretty much white trash so I fell head over heels for all of these quirky misfits. I mean, if there was ever a book designed for me it would be one about a dysfunctional family who owns a taxidermy shop, right?!?!?!? For realz . . . .
With my father gone, gag taxidermy paid the rent. I pinned antlers to rabbit heads stuffed with foam cuttings, shellacked frogs propped at miniature card tables, boiled a million alligator skulls, mouths stuffed with pointy teeth painted blue and orange for UF football fans. I turned ducklings into mermaids, fish tails shimmering green-gold.
STFU John Oliver! Dear Florida: Never stop being you.
At the end of the day this was a bizarre little book about getting through the grieving process and finding yourself. Definitely not a book for everyone (very detailed in description of creating a mount – not to mention the way some of the animals were acquired), but Mitchell and I liked it enough for everyone. Just look how happy it made him . . . .
Much like the band TLC I will fully admit I ain’t too proud to beg either and did everything in my power to acquire an early copy of this one. And as soon as Ollie started his new school only to run into his summer lovin’ Will who totally pulled a Danny Zuko with his popular basketball buddies by saying he spent his summer just . . . . .
Only Mostly Devastated was everything I wanted it to be. It totally had a Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda vibe as the blurb promised (not so sure about the Clueless namedrop – not really accurate and it wasn’t even necessary when the book is a guaranteed winner like this one), Will totally had some legit reasons for being a bit of a turd, Ollie was a great/understanding friend, but not afraid to use his words and was unwilling to be a doormat just to make someone else’s life easier, there was just enough teenage drama, and of course it all culminated ♪♫♪at the high school dance, where you can find romance, maybe it might be loooooooove♪♫♪.
Endless thanks to Wednesday Books for the early copy. You got me feeling all . . . . Rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong Shoo-bop sha wadda wadda yippity boom de boom Chang chang changitty chang sha-bop Dip da-dip da-dip doo-wop da doo-bee doo Boogedy boogedy boogedy boogedy Shoo-be doo-wop she-bop Sha-na-na-na-na-na-na-na yippity dip de doom
Red, White and Royal Blue is a story you might be familiar with . . . .
“Oh my God, this is like all those romantic comedies where the girl hires a male escort to pretend to be her wedding date and then falls in love with him for real.”
The only difference? This time it’s the Prince of England . . . .
Who are forced to play nice after a melee between the two at a royal wedding goes viral, leaving the world questioning the state of affairs between the two allied countries. You know what happens next, right?????
This book was absolutely adorkable. Surprisingly sexy (why do I keep getting fooled that these cutesy covers contain stories that don’t bring the heat?????), but low on angst and high on banter and pop-culture-referencey good times . . . .
“All this time, I thought I was the Ferris Bueller of this relationship.”
For anyone who wants to comment that this story isn’t realistic or what-have-you, I say: NO SHIT. It’s a romance, they aren’t steeped in reality. But wouldn’t it be nice to live in a world where it could be?
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!...more
“There’s something about first love, isn’t there? It’s untouchable to those who played no parFind my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
“There’s something about first love, isn’t there? It’s untouchable to those who played no part in it. But it’s the measure of all that follows.”
I’m pretty sure the only reason I avoided this at first was because it had like an 11,000 person waiting list at the library by the time I had heard about it. I decided to give it a go after seeing debra's reaction, and now?????
Yesterday I opted to read this during the lunch hour, but remained seated at my desk due to work being just a little too worky to feel comfortable leaving my cohorts and retreating to my favorite hidey hole. The end result was a gal shoveling salad in her snot and tear covered face while I cried the ugly cry of a Kardashian.
This slim novel tells the story of two near lifelong friends – Michael and Ellis. The first half focuses on Ellis (the “Tin Man”) and is told in a detached/third person style (which lacks quotation marks to boot). The second half features Michael, presented in first person via a journal format. It definitely isn’t a book for everyone as it is very atmospheric and often the setting is the focus rather than the players. You’ll either be okay with the writing or you won’t. If you find yourself on the positive side of the spectrum, you’ll discover a story that reminds us . . . .
Drama was meant to be a Banned Books Week selection, but the wait list at the library wasFind all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Drama was meant to be a Banned Books Week selection, but the wait list at the library was a little longer than anticipated (and hopefully full of children who were taking a stand against censorship and not just old ladies like me). Why it’s banned or challenged? Homosexuality – in the form of first crushes. In all actuality it's about the cast, but mainly crew, of the school play and all the goings on while they try to make it to opening night while battling first crushes, first heartbreak, mean girls, best friends, and all the other goings on of your typical 8th grader.
Dear Other Humans: It shouldn’t be that hard of a choice to make . . .
ANY book that a person wants to read is a book that should be available for reading.
As for any kiddo who might come across this “review?” Do you, little boo. Be true to yourself –you can play sports or be in the band or be in drama or want to kiss a girl or a boy – just be a good person. And now Imma borrow someone else’s much better words than my own do the talking . . . .
♫♪♫ When the sharpest words wanna cut me down I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out I am brave, I am bruised I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come And I'm marching on to the beat I drum I'm not scared to be seen I make no apologies
I thought my schedule only allowed time for one banned/challenged book this week, but I guess I should know by now not to underestimate my reading superpower. Especially when the library had this one available as a little 10-minute audio choice. I opted for that version because me likey the listeny stuff sometimes and . . . .
Boy this little book has something to offend EVERYONE. The PETA people who think penguins shouldn’t be kept in captivity to begin with, the “only straight married couples should be allowed to adopt,” the homophobes generically. Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell obviously subscribe to the go big or go home approach to writing a sure-to-be challenged book!
Okay, so obviously I’m a big tree hugging lib – at least as far as book reading is concerned. My question is, WTF difference does it make if this book is in a school library? You’re a member of the alt-right movement? YOU be the butthole who is willing to label yourself a butthole and send a note to school that says YOUR kid can’t read this book because you don’t approve of the message. YOU. SOLO. ALONE. Don’t take it off the shelves for everyone else. I mean dang, it’s a book about penguins who adopt a baby that would have never had a chance to survive otherwise (the pro-life people should have been all in favor of this one, FFS). Unless you plan on Little Billy only living on the compound with his sisterwives his entire life this is a pretty benign way of showing how not all families look the same but that it always “takes two to make a Tango” . . . .
And if you think you could win parenthood better than Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka (Spoiler Alert: a GAY couple), I triple-dog dare you to prove it . . . .
Kelly (and the Book Boar)
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