I read The House in the Cerulean Sea last year, and I had forgotten how much I loved these characters! Here they all are again, just as lovable as eveI read The House in the Cerulean Sea last year, and I had forgotten how much I loved these characters! Here they all are again, just as lovable as ever. I would read countless stories about them, however I’m not entirely sure this is the one. I found that the plot dragged and this was a bit of a slog for me to get through at times. It was the antics of the characters and the sweet family moments that got me through. Personally I would have preferred the plot to focus more on the children than Arthur, but I have no doubt that fans of the first book will love this one!
“There’s a lot of backstory here that would take too long, but let’s just say…” - an actual line from this book that basically sums up my experience w“There’s a lot of backstory here that would take too long, but let’s just say…” - an actual line from this book that basically sums up my experience with it.
Fantasy novellas rarely ever work for me - by nature, the genre needs adequate length for worldbuilding in order for the story to work and come alive.
This was a very frustrating read. There are some cool elements to this story - a badass lady knight, dragons, excerpts from made-up historical texts, and a cool twist towards the end - but they all suffer deeply from being shoved into a too-short novella with no room to explain anything. I constantly found myself going back to previous paragraphs and pages trying to figure out what I missed because there’d be random details thrown in that didn’t make sense. Instead the story is bloated with stuff I didn’t care about at all - ghosts, weird magic, and goo. So much goo. Every time someone did magic in this book, the result was some kind of goo - sentient sludge, bubbling gloop, steaming toxic liquified goop. Like, enough already!!
There just wasn’t enough room for this story to breathe and for me to get invested in it....more
This was an absolute joy to read. I’m new to the subject but this was the perfect introduction. It’s written in such an accessible and relatable way, This was an absolute joy to read. I’m new to the subject but this was the perfect introduction. It’s written in such an accessible and relatable way, sharing practical rituals to incorporate into your daily life for everyday magic.
The book takes you through the basics - journaling, creating a magical altar, casting spells, and divining meanings from tarot cards. The included journal prompts allow for introspection and provide an immersive experience. I can see how journaling can be a beneficial practice and great habit to add to the daily routine!
Tarot reading, something I previously considered intimidating, is broken down into easy-to-understand steps. The spells in this book are simple and revolve around positive affirmations, self-love, and empowerment. While I did not have all of the necessary items on hand at the time of reading, I still enjoyed this very much and I’m excited to put these ideas into practice.
I recommend this book for anyone looking for ways to be more intentional in their everyday life. I’m certain this is a book I’ll come back to more than once, and I’m eager to read more of Lovelace’s work!...more
Being very generous with my rating because I liked the concept, but I felt that this book lacked substance and the pacing was off. Every other chapterBeing very generous with my rating because I liked the concept, but I felt that this book lacked substance and the pacing was off. Every other chapter a new conflict would arise and then within the space of a few pages it would resolve, making the entire story seem low-stakes. It became tedious to read and I didn’t feel invested in the story.
I think this is a lot better suited to younger readers, who I imagine would swoon over the lighthearted romance aspects of the story....more
As an Extremely Online Person and someone who also enjoys reality TV, this book should have been a home run.
From the start, I thought that ten charactAs an Extremely Online Person and someone who also enjoys reality TV, this book should have been a home run.
From the start, I thought that ten characters were far too many to keep track of. So many of them felt irrelevant, excessively tropey, and there were so many overlapping traits/personalities that I couldn’t keep them straight (also maybe this is just a me problem but the female character named Logan made things even more confusing - every time that name popped up I thought it was one of the boys). I often lost track of which character POV I was reading because they had the same voice, and I found myself flipping back to the start of the chapter multiple times to double check. Eventually I completely gave up on this and just started reading for the plot.
The reality TV angle was such a huge draw for me but somewhere along the way it was lost and I didn’t feel that it was explored enough. The conclusion was messy and a letdown. I didn’t think that the culprit’s actions were plausible nor did I empathize with them.
This story had potential but failed in execution, becoming forgettable and will be quickly dated by the many references to trends and pop culture. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to read this book....more
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this new American edition of Helen Garner’s non-fiction work.
The subject of this book is such an interestingThank you to the publisher for the ARC of this new American edition of Helen Garner’s non-fiction work.
The subject of this book is such an interesting case but this truly is the story of a murder trial rather than the alleged crime itself. The author fixates on uninteresting details from the courtroom that made this very tedious and hard to get through. Maybe I’m just used to the way that American media takes a more emotional approach to true crime. ...more
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this new American edition of Helen Garner’s 1984 novel. I was intrigued by the foreword written by Rumaan AlThank you to the publisher for the ARC of this new American edition of Helen Garner’s 1984 novel. I was intrigued by the foreword written by Rumaan Alam, but unfortunately the novel did not meet the expectation that was set. Ultimately, it fell flat.
This is a disjointed and meandering story that shows vague slices of domestic life of a range of characters that, as a reader, I felt like I never really got to know very well.
I would recommend reading this all in one go if possible. Unfortunately I fell asleep during my first session at around 100 pages in and had totally lost the plot (not that there is one) the next time I picked it up.
The writing is strong but I don't think this book will stick with me in any meaningful way, besides the parts I didn’t like - the horrible treatment of a person with disabilities and an adult man that takes advantage of a 17 year-old girl....more
I was so interested in Shane McCrae’s story but found the writing style of this memoir to be challenging. This stylistic choice mimics the gaps in theI was so interested in Shane McCrae’s story but found the writing style of this memoir to be challenging. This stylistic choice mimics the gaps in the author’s childhood memories due to trauma, but it is very meandering, repetitive, and hard to follow....more
This is an incredible memoir. Compellingly written and deeply researched, Meg Kissinger shares her story of growing up in a family that fought mental This is an incredible memoir. Compellingly written and deeply researched, Meg Kissinger shares her story of growing up in a family that fought mental illness behind closed doors in an era where such struggles were not to be talked about openly. Everything was hush-hush, swept under the rug, and left to fester. It’s ultimately a devastating story as she shares that two of her siblings took their own lives. It is heartbreaking to read how little support and understanding there was leading up to their deaths, and the ripple effects that this had on the rest of the family. Throughout her lifelong career in journalism, Meg has brought to light the reality of the ways we treat people with mental illness and by sharing her story hopes to continue the fight for change.
This was a very hard review to write as Meg’s family’s story hit very close to home for me. She is close in age with my parents, and the world she grew up in is so familiar to me from hearing my parents’ own childhood stories. Mental illness runs in both sides of my family and it’s something that my parents still battle and struggle to open up about. I have always wondered what it was like for them growing up and how it shaped them into who they are, and this book gave me a peek into what it might have been like. My mom herself has said that my dad’s family just “didn’t talk about their feelings” and I can’t imagine how alienating that must have been as a struggling young adult. It was a lot to examine and wrap my head around as I read this book.
Beyond the topic of mental illness, there are so many interesting threads of history in this book that I’m dying to unravel further - the 15,000 pilots in training that died on american soil, the boom of pharmaceuticals, the “twilight sleep” that was induced upon pregnant women, John F. Kennedy Jr.’s unrealized dream of better mental healthcare. While nowadays we talk more openly about feelings of anxiety and depression, there is still a long way to go in how we treat people with mental illness and in some ways it seems as though we have regressed. It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. Why, after all these years, can we as a society still not figure this out? Why can’t we do better? When did we stop trying?
This is not a light read by any means, but an important one. It was thought-provoking in so many ways, and the story of Meg’s family is one I won’t soon forget. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC....more
This is my first book of Tracey Lange, and I was excited to receive an ARC. Unfortunately this wasn’t really my thing. The plot was very sparse and suThis is my first book of Tracey Lange, and I was excited to receive an ARC. Unfortunately this wasn’t really my thing. The plot was very sparse and super predictable. Brian was kind of a creep and I wasn’t into the romance at all.
There are some really deep family moments here that deal with disability, depression, anxiety, and addiction. What I liked most about the book was the Connelly sibling relationships, and the message that family sticks together to help each other out. However, the ending of the book was very abrupt and I don’t feel that there was much resolution, so the message fell flat....more
I’m not familiar with Haley Kiyoko or the song that this book is named after, but I was interested in reading what seemed like a cute sapphic romance.I’m not familiar with Haley Kiyoko or the song that this book is named after, but I was interested in reading what seemed like a cute sapphic romance. I was really into the 2006 setting and the LiveJournal posts and AIM messages that came with it. Guess who else was on LJ in 2006? This guy. What a throwback!
I really wanted to like this but unfortunately the charm of the 2006 internet era wasn’t enough. I just couldn’t get past the cringey dialogue. No one speaks like this. Teens don’t speak like this. Teens in 2006 certainly did not speak like this! I had whiplash from the two main characters going from being friendly to screaming at each other to flirting all in one conversation right after they just met.
What I found most appealing about the book was Coley’s healing journey after her mom’s suicide, and the development of the relationship with her dad who up until now hadn’t been in her life. Everything else was teen drama and I didn’t care to continue reading....more
A strong debut novel! The writing style and setting of this multigenerational immigrant story was hauntingly beautiful. Thank you to the publisher forA strong debut novel! The writing style and setting of this multigenerational immigrant story was hauntingly beautiful. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC....more
I really loved this! I couldn’t put it down, and it’s safe to say that this is one of my new favorite fairytales. I’m very torn between wishing it wasI really loved this! I couldn’t put it down, and it’s safe to say that this is one of my new favorite fairytales. I’m very torn between wishing it was longer and more fleshed out, and feeling that it’s perfect as-is.
I love Toadling with my whole heart. While there is a dark side to this story, I agree with the author that it really is quite sweet.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this captivating memoir! Who knew birding could be so interesting?
This book is packed with feeling -Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this captivating memoir! Who knew birding could be so interesting?
This book is packed with feeling - relatable stories about family and the struggles of living with mental illness, the excitement and wonder at spotting a rare species of bird, and the inspiring fight for social and climate justice. I loved learning a little bit about some of the thousands of birds Mya has seen, and about how ecotourism benefits indigenous communities.
It’s easy to despair in the face of climate change and there’s a long way to go, but this book left me feeling hopeful and optimistic....more
Thank you Putnam for the ARC, I loved this! I’m a nosy messy bitch who loves drama, so I couldn’t put this down and I read the whole thing in one sittThank you Putnam for the ARC, I loved this! I’m a nosy messy bitch who loves drama, so I couldn’t put this down and I read the whole thing in one sitting.
Reading this book was like being a fly on the wall for a train wreck of an evening, it all felt so very real. Though the characters are unlikeable and I don’t totally agree with them, the book is full of relatable commentary on adult friendship and marriage.
I was surprised at how the author split the three parts of the book into each character’s unique perspective. It was done so well and the writing was just superb! I could easily see this story done as a play or limited TV series....more
This is one of my most highly anticipated new releases of this year. I have it pre-ordered but I’m lucky to have gotten a sneak peek via Goodreads givThis is one of my most highly anticipated new releases of this year. I have it pre-ordered but I’m lucky to have gotten a sneak peek via Goodreads giveaway!
This was a fun reimagining of Greek myth. The writing was lovely and I couldn’t put the book down.
I’m not as familiar with the actual mythology of Psyche and Eros so I can’t personally speak to the changes that the author made to the story. It’s clear that the author has taken some liberties but I don’t mind and I enjoyed this book regardless. I do however think that too much time was spent weaving this in together with the timeline of Troy, and the main storyline suffers because of it. Troy retellings have been done to death at this point and this book doesn’t add anything new. It just doesn’t make sense to include here and feels like too far of a stretch....more
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