4.5 - This is a super fascinating book about the death industry. Part memoir of Caitlin’s time working in a crematory, part about death practices from4.5 - This is a super fascinating book about the death industry. Part memoir of Caitlin’s time working in a crematory, part about death practices from various cultures, and part commentary/criticism on the funeral & death industry in the US. It’s definitely graphic at times, going into vivid details about decomposition and other parts of death. But it’s also extremely funny. Caitlin writes the book in a way that even though these incredibly heavy topics are being brought up, it’s still a very easy, quick read. ...more
This book was fucking phenomenal. All the Things We Do in the Dark is a dark, beautifully written book about Ava, a teenage girl who was raped as a chThis book was fucking phenomenal. All the Things We Do in the Dark is a dark, beautifully written book about Ava, a teenage girl who was raped as a child and left with a scar across her face. She doesn’t have many friends and spends most of her time at home. But when she finds the body of a girl in the woods, her life is turned upside down again.
From the very first pages, this book is so intense. It covers rape, PTSD, mental health, and victim blaming in a way that is seamlessly integrated into the story. While there is the external plot of figuring out what happened to the girl in the woods, the most important part of the story is the internal journey that Ava goes on. How this experience reminds her of her own trauma and how she deals with that. On top of all that there’s also tension with her best friend Syd and Ava starting to like a girl named Hailey.
I just loved this book so much. After finishing it I literally said “holy shit” out loud. I think it has a really important message that is delivered through beautiful writing, a compelling plot, and interesting characters. ...more
2.5 - I liked that this book used the plot that was prominent in a lot of 90s teen movies, where someone dates a person as part of a bet or a scheme, 2.5 - I liked that this book used the plot that was prominent in a lot of 90s teen movies, where someone dates a person as part of a bet or a scheme, but then actually starts to fall for them… just making it with two girls instead of a straight couple. It’s always interesting to see how the other person finds out that their relationship started as a lie and if it can recover from that.
However, I felt pretty “meh” about this book overall. I did appreciate that the main character Zoey felt conflicted about the whole plot and constantly thought about how morally grey it was. But I just felt like I didn’t really care about the outcome of the story. I wasn’t rooting for Zoey & Chelsea’s relationship. I wasn’t rooting for Zoey’s best friend Skylar to get the revenge on Chelsea that she wanted. Everything just got way too dramatic and over the top in the end.
I don’t really think I would recommend this book. If you haven’t read anything by Siera Maley, I’d definitely say to read Taking Flight over this. ...more
Meh. I feel the same way about this book that I felt about her Pretty Little Liars series, it was entertaining, but also terrible. This is one of thosMeh. I feel the same way about this book that I felt about her Pretty Little Liars series, it was entertaining, but also terrible. This is one of those books that impressively manages to be boring and completely over the top at the same time. The plot was just too ridiculous and the five different POV character’s voices all sounded the same. I was constantly getting confused about whose POV a certain chapter was written from.
The plot sounded like it would be really interesting, a major hack at a prestigious university leads to secrets being revealed and somebody getting murdered. But I didn’t find any of the reveals or plot twists to be that exciting or well executed. Oh well....more
As much as I love books that have positive representation of female friendship and strong, moral characters… I also really love reading about nasty, mAs much as I love books that have positive representation of female friendship and strong, moral characters… I also really love reading about nasty, mean teenage girls and their toxic relationships with one another. Dare Me is not the book to read if you need to like the main characters in order to connect with a story. I can understand why the reviews for it are so polarizing, almost all of the characters are terrible people who do shitty things. But it really worked for me.
The story follows the dark, ferocious side of high school cheerleaders and how their squad is turned upside down by the arrival of a new, young coach. There is a bit of a mystery/thriller element, but I wouldn’t say that’s the strongest or most shocking aspect. For me, the writing and the characters were so captivating. Megan Abbott really knows how to create compelling stories about ruthless teenage girls....more
I love how many serious topics get tackled in Middle Grade books these days. The Stars Beneath Our Feet follows 12 year old Lolly as he’s grieving theI love how many serious topics get tackled in Middle Grade books these days. The Stars Beneath Our Feet follows 12 year old Lolly as he’s grieving the loss of his older brother to a gang-related shooting. Lolly finds himself getting angrier and lashing out in ways he never did when his brother was still alive. Throughout the book he has to learn how to heal and live in Harlem as he grows older and is more susceptible to gang violence himself.
Overall I thought this was a really good book, I enjoyed watching Lolly grow and change over the course of the story. ...more
This started out excellent, the descriptions of the harsh life in Alaska and Leni’s struggles with an abusive father were so vivid. However, somewhereThis started out excellent, the descriptions of the harsh life in Alaska and Leni’s struggles with an abusive father were so vivid. However, somewhere along the way I feel like this book transformed into a melodrama. I think all of the things that happened were realistic, but just something about the way the plot unfolded in the last quarter felt more like a soap opera rather than a grounded story. ...more
Two Dominican women are forced to be on the same team during a baking competition and stay in the same room… but *gasp* there’s only one bed. At firstTwo Dominican women are forced to be on the same team during a baking competition and stay in the same room… but *gasp* there’s only one bed. At first Kiskeya and Sully don’t get along, but slowly they warm up to one another. Will their attraction for each other get in the way of trying to win the competition?
Overall I really enjoyed this. I thought that the sex scenes were super steamy and the reasons for the tension between the two women were believable. However, I felt like all the side characters and the actual baking competition were a little underdeveloped. Also, sometimes Kiskeya and Sully’s voices would sound too similar and I would be confused about whose POV the chapter was in.
Even though I have some tiny complaints, I’d still recommend this to people looking for a steamy f/f novella. ...more
3rd read - 2022: Man, I just love this steamy little Christmas novella so much. It is full of spice, heart, si4th read - 2024: Yup, this still rocks.
3rd read - 2022: Man, I just love this steamy little Christmas novella so much. It is full of spice, heart, silliness, sex toys, chemistry, compelling characters, and a lot of Christmas atmosphere.
2nd read - 2020: A+ Christmas smut. I think this novella strikes the perfect balance between being steamy, romantic, and funny. Rereading it in 2020 I definitely have to bump up my rating to 5 stars from the 4.5 I gave it last year.
1st read - 2019: 4.5 - A super smutty, super funny Christmas novella. Sasha markets sex toys for a living and ends up snowed in at a bed & breakfast with a stash of her merchandise. She hates Christmas and doesn’t want to get into a relationship, but is drawn to Perry, a romantic man who loves everything about the holiday season. While snowed in together they decide to make their way through Sasha’s bag of toys.
This was just such an incredibly quick and fun read. I was laughing out loud at some parts. I also appreciated that this story is more queer than one might imagine just based on the synopsis. Sasha is bisexual and at least 5 of the supporting characters are queer as well.
I really don’t have anything negative to say about this other than I wish it was longer because I loved the characters and their dynamic so much. I’m definitely going to be reading more from this author....more
Stephen King decided to let Rage fall out of print after it appeared in the possessions of people who had carried out school shootings or had reportedStephen King decided to let Rage fall out of print after it appeared in the possessions of people who had carried out school shootings or had reportedly used the plot of the novel as inspiration. I was interested to read this book because all of the fiction I’ve previously read about school shootings follows survivors, friends, or family members of the shooter rather than being from the POV of the shooter.
Basically, I thought this book was super boring. A teenager takes a gun to school, kills his teacher, then holds his classmates hostage. The majority of the book is just him telling his classmates stories from his past as well as the classmates sharing their own stories. There will occasionally be a flurry of action, but then it just settles back into a sharing circle again.
Honestly, I can see why this book might have inspired actual shootings. There can obviously be different ways to interpret the meaning of what transpires… But (view spoiler)[ all of the shooter’s classmates (except one) end up on his side by the end of the story. (hide spoiler)] And that would probably seem powerful to someone who is already considering a violent action.
Regardless of what I think the actual message is here, I could’ve enjoyed the book if it was more exciting. But for me it was just dull stacked on top of having a questionable outcome....more
3.5 - A super quick, fun Christmas romance. Because it’s on the shorter side there isn’t a lot of time for character development and the plot feels a 3.5 - A super quick, fun Christmas romance. Because it’s on the shorter side there isn’t a lot of time for character development and the plot feels a little rushed. But I did enjoy the writing, so I think I’ll check out some full-length novels from these authors. ...more
3.5 - I’m a sucker for a mystery/thriller that’s about solving a murder that happened 20 years ago. In true Harlan Coben fashion this story was full o3.5 - I’m a sucker for a mystery/thriller that’s about solving a murder that happened 20 years ago. In true Harlan Coben fashion this story was full of twists and turns. But while I did really enjoy the plot, the way a lot of the side characters were portrayed kinda rubbed me the wrong way. A lot of the seemed to be based on outdated stereotypes, even more so than other even older Harlan Coben books I’ve read. ...more
A super cute, swoony hate to love romance set at a Renaissance Faire. It was entertaining to see Simon and Emily navigate hating each other out of cosA super cute, swoony hate to love romance set at a Renaissance Faire. It was entertaining to see Simon and Emily navigate hating each other out of costume, then having their characters be into one another during the actual Faire. While this was a fun read, at times it seemed a little surface level or like I didn’t really know the characters all that well. But overall I thought this was an extremely quick and enjoyable read. ...more
Jackson Bird’s memoir is an extremely moving and informative book about realizing his gender identity and sexuality and the sometimes tumultuous path Jackson Bird’s memoir is an extremely moving and informative book about realizing his gender identity and sexuality and the sometimes tumultuous path to self-acceptance and coming out. He takes great care to explain all of the terminology used so that the story is accessible to readers who don’t have much knowledge about trans terms or the greater LGBTQ+ community. I’ve seen some of Jackson’s YouTube videos over the years, so it was great to be able to read his book and learn more about his life that he hasn’t previously shared.
But I definitely think this book can be read and enjoyed by anyone, not just people who are already fans of his videos. I’d recommend this if you’re just interested in memoirs in general or specifically trans and queer memoirs. ...more
Damn, James Baldwin is a phenomenal writer. The themes and topics covered in this book, how black men are treated by the prison and justice system, raDamn, James Baldwin is a phenomenal writer. The themes and topics covered in this book, how black men are treated by the prison and justice system, racism, and rape, are still as relevant in 2019 as they were when the book initially came out in the 1970s. His prose is beautiful and the way the plot unfolds is masterfully crafted. Definitely give this one a shot, I think it’s a super accessible classic. ...more
3.5 - These are beautifully written vignettes following Esperanza, a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago. I did struggle a little bit to connect t3.5 - These are beautifully written vignettes following Esperanza, a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago. I did struggle a little bit to connect to the story because it’s so fragmented. I feel like I could’ve appreciated this so much more if it was written with a traditional plot arc. Having it split up into tiny sections just ended up making it feel disjointed to me. So while I didn’t totally love this, I’d still recommend that people check it out. The writing really is beautiful. ...more
It’s really rewarding to be able to see how Apollo progresses and changes over the course of this series. His friendship with Meg and all the other siIt’s really rewarding to be able to see how Apollo progresses and changes over the course of this series. His friendship with Meg and all the other side characters they encounter on their journey are great to see. It’s also wonderful how Rick Riordan continues to create stories for younger readers that are so incredibly diverse.
As a whole this series is a lot of fun, but it also does have some more serious moments as well. ...more
A traumatic event happened when Ash and Solomon were twelve years old. Ash can’t remember and Solomon retreats into a fantastical world. Destroy All MA traumatic event happened when Ash and Solomon were twelve years old. Ash can’t remember and Solomon retreats into a fantastical world. Destroy All Monsters is a blend of a hard-hitting YA contemporary and fantasy. It’s similar to Shaun David Hutchinson or A.S. King where the speculative elements seem to be the way that characters cope with hard aspects of their lives.
I think that the “reveal” of what happened when they were twelve was pretty easy to predict. That part of the story didn’t offer many surprises. However, the way the story was told through Ash’s eyes in “the real world” and Solomon’s eyes in “Darkside” was pretty unique. It was interesting to try and figure out which parts of “Darkside” related to which things in “the real world.”
Sometimes Solomon’s sections could get a little convoluted. I’m also not entirely sure if the mental health representation was the best. I think that mostly things get called out or at least proven to be wrong by the end, but it just left me wanting a little bit more.
I think this book definitely won’t be for everyone. The story is told in an odd way and covers some really heavy topics. I’d suggest looking up trigger warnings in some other reviews if you feel so inclined. But it worked for me. I found it to be compelling from start to finish. ...more
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