I'm too stupid for this book. I found it boring and pretentious. Language was too flowery and I kept zoning out. I liked The Hours much better. Sorry.I'm too stupid for this book. I found it boring and pretentious. Language was too flowery and I kept zoning out. I liked The Hours much better. Sorry....more
Absolutely despise this. Not interested in gay white men doing their gay white shit. You know, being casually racist, sexist, and transphobic. DNF 42%
Absolutely despise this. Not interested in gay white men doing their gay white shit. You know, being casually racist, sexist, and transphobic. To be fair, it's a teen ya book so Simon is mostly annoying for that reason. ...more
It absolutely kills me to rate this 4-stars. This was a perfect, 5-star read until the last two chapters. Ugh. Why why why did the author do that?????It absolutely kills me to rate this 4-stars. This was a perfect, 5-star read until the last two chapters. Ugh. Why why why did the author do that????? Why couldn't he let Ari come to his own conclusion?
I have never related to a book and its main character (Ari) is my life! This book perfectly captures what it means to be 15/16.
Ari is a little bit queer. Maybe. He definitely loves his best friend. But did it necessarily need to be romantic love? Part of me just wanted them to be close friends.
The story takes place in the 80s but it had more 90s early aughts vibes to me.
Hilarious. Wish it was longer so we could get more insights. Amazing journey that Jenny has been kind to share. I didn't get a lot of the metaphors anHilarious. Wish it was longer so we could get more insights. Amazing journey that Jenny has been kind to share. I didn't get a lot of the metaphors and the second half felt shallow. I felt like Jenny had more to share and to say, but was holding back for some reason....more
Based on the synopsis and the foreword, I was under the impression that this book was going to go in a different direction than it actually did. I thoBased on the synopsis and the foreword, I was under the impression that this book was going to go in a different direction than it actually did. I thought it was going to be about how there is no threat from cis men pretending to be women bcs no one does that. I thought it was going to be about how you don't randomly pick your gender, trans people are not lying when they say they're trans.
It's not.
It uses the setup of pretending to be a different gender as a cracking of the egg moment. idk I guess it could happen, but it feels like it could also be misinterpreted (as Lily was trying to prove).
It reads like Wattpad fiction, I'm sorry. "Social studies" is a dated term for a major that has evolved. "Dissertation" is the main product of a PhD program. And so on. It's not a bad story. I don't want to be a bitch about it. It's just... Wattpad fiction....more
I thought this story was going to be about Luna. Instead, it's about her sister Regan. What a disappointment. BUT
It's a clever plot device. We learn aI thought this story was going to be about Luna. Instead, it's about her sister Regan. What a disappointment. BUT
It's a clever plot device. We learn about being trans and how different people in society react to the transgender community through Regan. It's clever. And we need books like it. Yes of course we need books about trans people from the POV of trans people. But we also need books from the POV of their friends/family. Many of us need to learn how to embrace and support of trans as the friends/family of trans persons.
I took off a couple of stars for the teen romance subplot. As with Bella from Twilight, being clumsy is not a personality. ...more
This should have been op ed on some secondary media outlet like Buzzfeed. Ranting and raving at your readers is not a way to garner sympathy and respeThis should have been op ed on some secondary media outlet like Buzzfeed. Ranting and raving at your readers is not a way to garner sympathy and respect from said readers just fyi....more
My only complaint is Amanda's abrupt change in personality as she changes schools. I understand that she This was a beautiful story and well-crafted.
My only complaint is Amanda's abrupt change in personality as she changes schools. I understand that she was living a lie before and was feeling inspired, but does that really make you switch from an awkward introvert to a basic girl extrovert? idk. Good for her, but idk. ...more
I loathe fantasy, but I adore Captive Prince so I thought I would give this a try. And I did, but I just couldn't anymore.
I enjoy CS Pacat's wDNF 43%
I loathe fantasy, but I adore Captive Prince so I thought I would give this a try. And I did, but I just couldn't anymore.
I enjoy CS Pacat's writing, but the story is just so boring. Page after page of info-dumping about unique facts about the AU inside this book. I just could not suspend my disbelief. And most of the characters were uninteresting. ...more
**spoiler alert** It's disappointing to comb through the reviews and see complaint after complaint about the "woke agenda" in this book. How is it "to**spoiler alert** It's disappointing to comb through the reviews and see complaint after complaint about the "woke agenda" in this book. How is it "too much"?
This was a FANTASTIC book! An amazing story of the real lived experiences of transwoman. It had me on the edge of my seat right to till the end. The authors really play with your emotions and your perceptions.
I'm still not sure to the extent I believe the ending. It's good symbolism and there's a high probability of Maya's feelings, but... there's something not right about Ash. I flip-flopped throughout the book on his innocence. But I do believe their relationship was on the toxic side and would become even more so as the months progressed. He had too many red flags for this to be discounted. Only with him going to intense therapy would I want them to be together.
I wish we got to spend more time with Lily. She was an amazing woman.
Nitpicky things: -The weird chronology to hide the "twist" was annoying and a bit cheap on the author's part. -I did not like the romance with the detective. I found it to be unnecessary. -The incredibly short timeline for Lily and Ash to fall in love. But I get it, teenagers. -Why were Lily and Ash in love? I don't think it was ever really answered. But this wasn't primarily a romance novel so it's not like I'm expecting an answer to this. ...more
Really good take on horror. I know this is a retelling of Usher, but it had a lot of Frankenstein vibes to it. Solid story. Solid retelling. But it waReally good take on horror. I know this is a retelling of Usher, but it had a lot of Frankenstein vibes to it. Solid story. Solid retelling. But it wasn't very exciting.
Merged review:
Really good take on horror. I know this is a retelling of Usher, but it had a lot of Frankenstein vibes to it. Solid story. Solid retelling. But it wasn't very exciting....more
It was dull. The monster theme was overdone. The ending was clever, but because everything else is underwhelming there isn't much of an impact.
Also, It was dull. The monster theme was overdone. The ending was clever, but because everything else is underwhelming there isn't much of an impact.
Also, there are these subtle, weird lesbian vibes. Like I don't actually think the women were queer more like the author was trying to add to the horror atmosphere. Idk. It's hard to explain....more
This was phenomenal up until chapter 27. 1-26 -> 5 stars. 27+ -> 1 star. So I compromised.
Such a magical setting. It felt like reading 1001 Arabian NThis was phenomenal up until chapter 27. 1-26 -> 5 stars. 27+ -> 1 star. So I compromised.
Such a magical setting. It felt like reading 1001 Arabian Nights. I usually stay away from fantasy bcs I struggle with suspending my disbelief, but the world building as so so good that it was easy to get lost.
Finally, a female MC in a YA novel who has flaws and makes mistakes!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Soraya. I loved watching her grow.
The problem I had was with the two love interests. They were both bad people. I didn't want Soraya to end up with either. This was an audiobook, so idk the spelling, but the romance with the female one felt thin. The female love interest lied, manipulated, and used her. That is such a poor basis for a relationship.
The ending dragged. It tried to be this battle-to-end-all-battles and it was so unnecessary. I didn't like the evil guy's ending nor what happened with the Mother. It felt like a let-down with the different "morals" the author was working with. ...more
Really excellent crime story. Instead of another book from the POV of current and past victims, you get the POV of the head cop and the criminal. It wReally excellent crime story. Instead of another book from the POV of current and past victims, you get the POV of the head cop and the criminal. It was fascinating.
The cop is the biggest disappointment. He's got some personal issues. He doesn't seem to like to let people in, but it's not explained why. For this reason you heart breaks for his dead lover. With the Grindr side-plot I can't help but wonder if perhaps the cop was just racist. His character wasn't really well developed. It was realistic for real life, but in a book you expect a kind of character arc....more
I'm too stupid for this book. I think if I knew more about the history of Europe/Catholic Church from this time period, it would have been easier to fI'm too stupid for this book. I think if I knew more about the history of Europe/Catholic Church from this time period, it would have been easier to follow. Eventually I gave up cross-checking Wikipedia and just went with the vibes.
I will say that it really helped me better understand the Reformation. The corruption of the Church is on full display here. If you don't already hate the Church, this book might help you change your mind.
LOVE how the core conflict is a bizarre love triangle between 3 monks. Did not expect that. It was a lovely surprise that kept this book going for me. It wasn't a big deal, but I feel like the author could have been more concise with the excessive detail he provides.
I did not like the motivation for the murders. It was a bit of a let down. Other than that, the ending gave me chills.
It pains me to give this 4 stars. This was absolutely a 5-star story and mystery. It kept me guessing right till the end. Also, surprise queer! Great It pains me to give this 4 stars. This was absolutely a 5-star story and mystery. It kept me guessing right till the end. Also, surprise queer! Great characters and excellent pacing. The ending is the problem. It is too drawn out and I think it could have benefited with some ambiguity. ...more
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