Everything We Never Had is a heartwarming fictional tale that chronicles the lives of a Filipino family spanning four generations. It starts with the Everything We Never Had is a heartwarming fictional tale that chronicles the lives of a Filipino family spanning four generations. It starts with the great grandfather — the first Filipino immigrant to America and it traverses three more generations until the great grandson who is still trying to find a place for himself in the United States.
The story unfolds through multiple points of view. Each perspective is from a different generation. Though I enjoyed the varying perspectives, I had to make sure that I didn’t stop in-between points of view as I did get lost and had to backtrack to determine whose point of view I was reading.
As a third generation Asian American, I found the story so relatable. Though I admit that the Filipino community had a much more difficult time assimilating to US customs. I could empathize with what the families were going through and I understand that as immigrants, love manifests itself in a different way from traditional methods. The Filipinos like other immigrants during that era wanted a better life for their children. But unlike American families, their love for their children manifested itself in working harder, being better, and forsaking the emotional hugs and kisses that their American counterparts had.
I thoroughly enjoyed Everything We Never Had. Author Ribay has done an excellent job in forging a multigenerational story of a Filipino family struggling financially, and emotionally during trying times in American History. Five stars.
I received a ARC from Penguin Teen through the Bookish First Raffle. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions....more
After reading an excerpt, I was hopeful that I would enjoy the novel. It was fun in the beginning, but after a while, it became monotonous like a brokAfter reading an excerpt, I was hopeful that I would enjoy the novel. It was fun in the beginning, but after a while, it became monotonous like a broken record on repeat. It was the same scenarios of rehearsals, sex, drugs, and partying at different tour locations. And I could not understand the point of having song lyrics and Q&A interviews interspersed throughout the novel.
The characters were pretty shallow, and I didn't care for any of them. Perhaps I got a snobby or holier than thou vibe that didn't sit well with me. And their personalities were similar whether it be male or female. Is that how the recording artists are? Banal?
By the time I read through to 51%, I was pretty much done. An unfortunate DNF, one star.
I received a physical copy of the novel from Celadon Books through the BookishFirst Raffle. I was also invited to read a DRC from Celadon Books through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions....more
I was never one to like or read poetry so I was a bit skeptical when presented with an excerpt. sun memos has changed my perspective regarding poetry,I was never one to like or read poetry so I was a bit skeptical when presented with an excerpt. sun memos has changed my perspective regarding poetry, for the better.
sun memos is a quick read at 104 pages. The poems are broken into four parts, with each part representing a different focus. I didn’t particularly care for Part 2, primarily because of its concentration in erotica. The other parts were very thought provoking with focus on life, love, and existentialism.
Overall, sun memos is a very thoughtful poetry book suitable for those readers wanting to dip their toes into the poetry pond. Four stars.
I received a finished copy of the book from Commonfolk Publishing through the Bookish First Raffle. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions....more
Well not much to say about The One That Got Away with Murder except that I wasn’t swept away like some of the other readers.
I expected a more suspenseWell not much to say about The One That Got Away with Murder except that I wasn’t swept away like some of the other readers.
I expected a more suspenseful, nail-biting read, and instead I got a lukewarm mystery that could have used a lot more plot twists. I didn’t even understand the motive behind the murders. The motive just seemed too shallow in my opinion.
I like that the story unfolded through a first person’s point of view. It made it easier to keep track of all the characters. However, one drawback that I noticed was that the different characters were not fleshed out as well as they should have been.
Needless to say, I didn’t find The One That Got Away with Murder to be breathtaking, nor surprising. But considering that the novel is the author’s debut, I must say that it’s a good start. Three stars.
I claimed the book from Henry Holt and Co., through the Bookish First Raffle. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions....more
I typically enjoy biographies and memoirs. And while I did enjoy the beginnings of The Manicurist’s Daughter, my interest waned after 54% I still manaI typically enjoy biographies and memoirs. And while I did enjoy the beginnings of The Manicurist’s Daughter, my interest waned after 54% I still managed to skim the remainder of the memoir and I don’t think I missed anything noteworthy.
As a reader that has a tendency to “mouth” foreign words and phrases, the constant barrage of Vietnamese names and phrases became a detriment to my ready enjoyment. I lost track of people and/or relatives, especially when there were only Vietnamese names involved. As such I probably would have enjoyed listening to an audiobook version so I wouldn’t have to fumble over pronunciations.
The memoir wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought the book would delve more into the body image/malpractice angle of her mother as well as the effects of the interratial marriage between her and her Korean husband. But, I just got smatterings of them.
The Manicurist’s Daughter wasn’t the best memoir that I’ve read. But it wasn’t the worst, either. Two okay stars.
I won an ARC from Celadon Books through the Bookish First raffle. I was also invited to read the DRC from Celadon Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions....more
Mercury is the rural hometown to the Joseph family, where Mick and Elise own and operate a roofing company. Their three sons, Baylor, Waylon, and ShayMercury is the rural hometown to the Joseph family, where Mick and Elise own and operate a roofing company. Their three sons, Baylor, Waylon, and Shay help with the family business when they can. But when Marley West and her mom Ruth arrive into town, sibling rivalry and jealously threaten to upend the Joseph’s family dynamics. And will it be for the best or worse?
I really enjoyed Mercury. The novel was a little depressing at times as it portrayed a rural family struggling to make ends meet while also dealing with modern/contemporary issues such as PTSD, gay relationships, and dementia. It is not a light read due to the subject matter. And as a family drama, it did get a little intense at times. With numerous plot twists that unfold over multiple timelines, Mercury kept me engaged and captured till the end.
The characters are well developed and genuinely portray a rural family of the 90’s. I liked all of the characters as they all added flavor and color to the narrative. But it is the main character of Marley that really made the story come to life. I watched Marley grow from dependent teenager, to loving mother and wife, and into an independent, strong businesswoman that persevered through thick and thin.
Overall, Mercury was an excellent family drama well deserving of five solid stars.
I received a DRC and ARC from Celadon Books through NetGalley and the Bookish First Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions....more
I had high expectations for this novel as I loved the excerpt. Unfortunately, Granite Harbor just fell flat.
The plot follows a whodunit trope. But theI had high expectations for this novel as I loved the excerpt. Unfortunately, Granite Harbor just fell flat.
The plot follows a whodunit trope. But the pacing was slow and the exciting parts were pretty sparse. With choppy transitions between chapters, I got lost several times where I didn’t know the timeline — past or present.
There were numerous characters. Too many to keep track of. And the different timelines didn’t help. The character count was just one of the reasons that I didn’t enjoy the novel as much as I wanted to.
I just felt that the narrative didn’t have to be so long winded. So by 46%, I was just bored. I skimmed a few chapters, then skipped to the end which wasn’t satisfying or redeeming. Two stars.
I was invited to read a DRC from Celadon Books through NetGalley. And I also won an ARC from Celadon Books through the Bookish First Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions....more
Let me start by saying that I think this author is overrated. Just my opinion, but an honest one. It's not like I didn't give this author a second chaLet me start by saying that I think this author is overrated. Just my opinion, but an honest one. It's not like I didn't give this author a second chance. I read a lenghtly excerpt from The Maidens and I didn't care for it. But I thought maybe The Fury would be different. Unfortunately, it wasn't any different, and I think I'm just not into Michaelides style of writing.
For me, the pacing was very slow. But, cleverly placed breadcrumbs kept be going until I got tired of waiting for any excitement outside of the murder.
The story unfolds through the lens of Elliot Chase. Elliot emcees the narrative from both third and first person points of view. I feel, however, that the flow and pacing would have benefited from multiple points of view.
Insofar as the characters are concerned, I disliked all of them. None of them had any redeeming qualities. They were all just full of themselves. But that means that the characters were fully developed into the actors they intended to be.
Sad to say at the 34% point, I just didn't have it in me to continue slogging on. One star, DNF.
I claimed an ARC from Celadon Books through the Bookish First Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions....more
The book’s description didn’t hint that the novel would include a sapphic romance. But there it was. And truth be told, I’m not a fan.
The narrative stThe book’s description didn’t hint that the novel would include a sapphic romance. But there it was. And truth be told, I’m not a fan.
The narrative started out fun and creepy with behind the scenes stage action. And I did enjoy reading what it takes to become a pop star and maintain that level of stardom. Toward the end, however, the narrative took a surreal turn into fantasyland. I would have been satisfied if the novel stayed on its paranormal course. So the fantasy aspect just killed it for me.
There are numerous characters that come into play during the course of the narrative. And because of that, there probably wasn’t enough time to fully develop them — even the main characters. They all seemed generic to me. But luckily I got to listen to the audiobook version and that’s when I was able to distinguish each character from the other.
Generous Gruesome Faces is the first novel in the series. And because of the finale, it probably can’t be read as a standalone novel. Would I continue on with the series? Probably not. There wasn’t anything noteworthy and the finale didn’t leave me wanting more. Two okay stars.
I received a finished copy of the novel from Roaring Book Press through the BookishFirst Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions....more
I thoroughly enjoyed Being Henry. The memoir really divulged a lot of personal details that I had no idea even existed or occurred. A lot of times theI thoroughly enjoyed Being Henry. The memoir really divulged a lot of personal details that I had no idea even existed or occurred. A lot of times the public, including myself, sees a famous personality through rose colored glasses, not realizing that these famous actors like Henry Winkler are humans going through the same personal struggles as everyone else.
In his memoir, Winkler details all of the hardships he faced growing up. One of which was his feeling of inadequacy brought on by old world parents who thought their son wasn’t the brightest bulb in the household. It turns out, however, that Winkler’s scholastic ineptitude was caused by a severe case of dyslexia. A fact that Winkler wouldn’t realize until much later in life at age 31. Can you imagine?
While Winkler enjoyed the limelight during his career as “The Fonz,” it came with a hefty price tag. Winkler had been typecast and struggled to find meaningful acting jobs since the ending of the sitcom Happy Days. But there was a sliver lining. Winkler started writing children’s books and became sucessful at it. I didn’t realize until now that he has written at least 39 plus books in a few series. What an accomplishment!
I could go on and on about the book. Just know that there’s quite a bit of history in the memoir that covers his college years (Yale,) marriage, directorial debut, as well as his struggles with his personal demons. Being Henry is one of the best memoirs that I’ve read in quite a while. Five outstanding stars.
I received an ARC from Celadon Books through BookishFirst. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions....more
The Scarlet Alchemist is the first installment of The Scarlet Alchemist series. And I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. It contains the right mix of fantaThe Scarlet Alchemist is the first installment of The Scarlet Alchemist series. And I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. It contains the right mix of fantasy, horror, mystery, as well as light romance.
The story unfolds through the main character’s point of view. And it works really well for the story. I got to experience the terror, excitement, love, humor, disgust of Zilan — the main character. So as you can tell, I loved Zilan. But I also loved the secondary characters of Wenshu and Yufei. All of the characters were well developed and fleshed out. I enjoyed their banter, snark, as well as humor. All of their personalities shined through to make the story come to life.
There were a number of plot twists that made for an exciting and unputdownable read. A lot of surprises and “oh wow!” moments dotted the story’s landscape. Author Baker’s storytelling skills really shine in this area.
There’s also a bit of romance that lightened the darkly graphic scenes. A welcome respite from the horror interspersed throughout the novel.
Fantasy novels are either a hit or miss for me. But, The Scarlet Alchemist was definitely a hit. There wasn’t anything that I didn’t like about the novel. Except that I have to wait a year before the next installment gets released. *sigh* Five amazing stars.
I received a finished copy of the book from Inkyard Press through the BookishFirst Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions....more
Erika Germoglio co-owned and operated a highly successful company that specialized in rehabilitating distressed companies. She shared her success withErika Germoglio co-owned and operated a highly successful company that specialized in rehabilitating distressed companies. She shared her success with her fiancé, Craig Bernhardt, who was a prominent real estate lawyer. Erika and Craig were engaged for a number of years, and with both of their careers on the move, they decided to secure a date for their wedding. To Erika, having to finalize her wedding plans was like a dream come true. And Erika would have her happily ever after. Or so she thought.
Before Erika could even begin to plan her wedding, she receives a strange letter from an attorney in Italy. Apparently, Erika had relatives in Italy and a grandfather that she never knew existed. Unfortunately, the letter didn’t bear any good news as she was made aware of the passing of Umberto Germoglio…her grandfather. As a result of Umberto’s passing, Erika stood to inherit a winery as well as a B&B. The only catch — Erika had to learn to operate both the winery and B&B. A task that required a minimum stay of five months. And as Erika would soon find out, perhaps moving to Italy would be the best move she would ever make.
After reading an excerpt from Casalvento, I knew in my heart that I would love this novel. I was not disappointed. Reminicent of the movie Under the Tuscan Sun, Casalvento exuded the same romantic and tranquil atmosphere that is associated with the Tuscan landscape.
I loved the primary characters in this novel. Author Cuillo has a gift of establishing and generating her characters into people that are interesting and engaging. It was easy to like them, and I was highly entertained by a few of the minor players.
I can’t say much about the plot without giving away that whole story. But I will say that there are some surprises dotted along the way that will lead to a heartfelt finale. And as a bonus, there are a few delectable recipes at the end of the novel which include: Pennee Della Nonna, Pasta E Fagioli, Linguine Con Cozze E Vongole.
I received a physical copy of the book from Greenleaf Book Group Press through the BookishFirst raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions....more
For a short novel of 272 pages, it sure took me a while to read it. I probably expected a lot more than what I got being that there were a number of sFor a short novel of 272 pages, it sure took me a while to read it. I probably expected a lot more than what I got being that there were a number of stellar reviews. But, when it comes to certain genres, I am a lot more critical than most.
I didn't find anything creepy or scary about the novel, and the pacing for me was just too slow for my tastes. Somehow, I expected a more adrenaline filled narrative and at best, I got a lukewarm reception. The novel literally put me to sleep.
I really didn't connect with any of the characters. Though I did appreciate the dual points of view. So, by 47%, I was done for the day. I may pick it up again later, but as of right now, it's a one star DNF. Too bad because I did use my points to claim the book from Penguin Teen through the Bookish First Raffle.
The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions....more
I had high hopes for The Legacies. Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed by 52% What killed it were the shallow, self-serving characters, and the parI had high hopes for The Legacies. Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed by 52% What killed it were the shallow, self-serving characters, and the party central daily atmosphere. Add in teen angst, drug use, and parents that don't really care about their teens except for the prestige of them becoming a Legacy Club member, and you have a recipe that takes away from the real mystery/murder.
The story unfolds through multiple points of view across multiple timelines. It can get confusing if you're not paying attention or if you happen to start reading the novel mid chapter after you've set it down for a few hours.
With the exception of the character of Tori, I didn't care for any of the other characters nor their respective parents. Their "holier than thou," and condescending attitudes just didn't quite sit well with me. Though one could argue that, that's the beauty of those characters if they could invoke such strong feelings.
It just seemed that with all of the teen drama, the murder just took a backseat to all of the goings on. Maybe I'll revisit The Legacies at another time. But from what I've read in the spoilers, it won't be anytime soon. One unfortunate DNF star.
I received an ARC from Penguin Teen through BookishFirst. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions....more
Four students from Armstrong Prep were on their way home from an epic party when a tragic accident occurs. Spencer, Ethan, Tabby and Chris were in theFour students from Armstrong Prep were on their way home from an epic party when a tragic accident occurs. Spencer, Ethan, Tabby and Chris were in the vehicle at the time. Three of them survived, and one of them died.
The Headmaster’s List started off with a bang. But eventually, the excitement and thrills waned as the story progressed. It became a somewhat boring read with very little plot twists. If there were any plot twists, they were pretty much predictable.
The characters all seemed generic to me. None of them stood out and made any lasting impression. Except, they were all spoiled and wealthy trust fund teens.
I really liked the author’s fantasy novels from the Never After series so I had some pretty lofty expectations for this recent novel. Unfortunately, The Headmaster’s List wasn’t as suspenseful or thrilling as I expected. And with a bland ending, it became an okay two star read for me.
I received a finished copy of the book from Roaring Book Press through Bookish First. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions....more
It was the mid to late seventies when I could have cared less for what was going on in other countries. As a high schooler then, I was oblivious to thIt was the mid to late seventies when I could have cared less for what was going on in other countries. As a high schooler then, I was oblivious to the communist actions conducted by the Khmer Rouge. So as I read Under the Naga Tail in present day, I am reminded that history is so important and should not be ignored.
There are no words to explain the pain and suffering that the Chinese Cambodians like Mae Bunseng Taing had to endure under the Khmer Rouge regime. It’s unfathomable to think that such atrocities on the tens of thousands even occurred.
Under the Naga Tail is a testament to the people like Mae whose perseverance and determination fortified their resolve to escape war torn Cambodia.
Told in the first person point of view, the story unfolds from the very beginning of the unrest until Mae’s escape to America. There are photos that highlight the families while living in the refugee camps, and photos of Mae as he successfully integrated into American life and found meaningful purpose.
Under the Naga Tail wasn’t the easiest to read due to the subject matter. But, it certainly left a memorable impression that I won’t soon forget. Five stars.
I received a finished copy of the book from Greenleaf Book Group Press through Bookish First. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions....more
Funded by a generous benefactor, Urban Promise Prep had become the most prestigious college prepatory academy for at risk youth. And a lot of Urban PrFunded by a generous benefactor, Urban Promise Prep had become the most prestigious college prepatory academy for at risk youth. And a lot of Urban Promise’s success was due in part to Principal Kenneth Moore’s no nonsense approach to discipline and a demerit system that supposedly kept the students in line.
Among all the students attending Urban Promise, three boys stood out as troubled teens who regularly had run ins with Principal Moore. Trey Jackson, Ramon Zambrano, and J.B. Williamson were considered troublemakers and bullies at times. So when Principal Moore is found dead from a gun shot wound, it wasn’t surprising that Trey, Ramon and J.B were the lead suspects in the murder investigation. All of them claimed innocence, but neither one of them had a solid alibi. And all of them had motive.
Promise Boys is a quick read with short chapters. But the story really packs a punch with colorful and interesting characters. I loved how author Brooks managed to capture the essence of the personalities in the boy trio. Brooks’ experience as an educator dealing with at risk youth shines through in this novel.
The plot unfolds through multiple points of view over several timelines. It was easy to follow because the chapters and subchapters are clearly outlined. The narrative follows a whodunit trope, but there are a few plot twists enroute to the finale. I was a bit disappointed with the ending, but there wouldn’t be a story if the witness reveal occurred early in the game.
Overall, Promise Boys is an excellent read save for the reveal toward the end. Four stars.
I received a physical copy of the books from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group through the Bookish First raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions....more
Senior high schooler Cameron is a member of the Geeks And Nerds United (G.A.N.U) club whose focus is on anything manga and anime related. Together witSenior high schooler Cameron is a member of the Geeks And Nerds United (G.A.N.U) club whose focus is on anything manga and anime related. Together with his other nerd buddies and classmates D’Anthony, Mackenzie, and Jocelyn, G.A.N.U is their go to social club — a safe place for them to be what they want to be without being ridiculed as weird.
On the other end of the spectrum, there is a group of seniors known as the Caravan — a group consisting of the most popular kids on campus, whose social and economic status border on elite. It so happens Cameron’s crush, Karla is a part of that group. Not wanting rumors and whispers, Karla and Cameron conduct secret liaisons, hiding their attraction to each other from the public eye. But is this how a relationship (if any) is supposed to be?
The Wrong Kind of Weird is a humorous, light and highly entertaining novel. Although geared toward the Teen and Young Adult crowd, I still found the novel to be very enjoyable.
The story unfolds from a first person’s point of view. In this case, it happens to be Cameron which was a nice change to have a guy’s perspective rather than a girl’s perspective.
Character development is excellent. Author Ramos has managed to capture the diverse flavors of the main characters. It was as though he was describing his own classmates and the issues they all faced.
The plot is realistic and relatable enough as I’m sure at one point or another, we each have faced that nerd vs cool kids situation in our own lives. And we have probably gone through that awkwardness of concealing friendships and love interests with the “enemy.”
Though I found The Wrong Kind of Weird to be fun and entertaining, I did feel that the continual manga and anime references were a little over the top. Four and a half solid stars rounded up.
I received a digital ARC from Inkyard Press through NetGalley as well as a physical book through Bookish First. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions....more
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