This is the third book in the Blanche White series, and Blanche is *pissed.* She is NOT taking it from anyone: not her white politician employer who cThis is the third book in the Blanche White series, and Blanche is *pissed.* She is NOT taking it from anyone: not her white politician employer who courts black voters, but vilifies them behind their backs; not the black minister who does Blanche's employer's political outreach to the community by knowingly convincing people to vote against their interests; not for her homophobic coworkers, friends, and relatives; and definitely not for the grown man who got her 16 year-old niece pregnant. This book covers a lot of ground socially, racially, and politically, and Blanche's sensible and caring approach to the issues that affect her community is bolstered by her determination not to be bullied or belittled. The mystery at the center of this novel is embedded in inequity, structural racism, and misogyny. Watching Blanche's persistence in unraveling deception and hidden violence is incredibly satisfying - just as satisfying as watching Blanche re-evaluate her own assumptions along the way....more
I'm a big fan of Kemper Donovan's podcast, All About Agatha, so I *had* to read his first attempt at a puzzle mystery. On the whole, it's successful, I'm a big fan of Kemper Donovan's podcast, All About Agatha, so I *had* to read his first attempt at a puzzle mystery. On the whole, it's successful, and the solution makes sense given the story. Kemper's depiction of a Hilary Clinton, but not quite Hilary Clinton, character was well done, and I'd love to have had her as the main detective. She's distinctive and relentless and the most fun character to be around in the whole novel. The narrator's voice is glib to the point of being too cute, and that got in the way for me at times. The romance sub plot was also very clumsily done - no chemistry between the characters and seduction scenes that come off as comical rather than romantic. I can imagine those last two issues smoothing out over time, though, and I'm already looking forward to Donovan's next one, Loose Lips.
Thanks to Kensington Books and Edelweiss for the review copy in exchange for an honest review....more
The Heiress takes the character of Anne de Bourgh (the intended fiance that Darcy rejects) and tells her story. Greeley makes the intriguing decision The Heiress takes the character of Anne de Bourgh (the intended fiance that Darcy rejects) and tells her story. Greeley makes the intriguing decision to rewrite Anne's sickliness as laudanum addiction, entirely spearheaded by her mother who found her a troublesome baby. For the first third of the book, Anne is mostly doped up and only vaguely aware of what's going on around her. The pacing is very slow, but the writing is excellent. I didn't mind the slow pacing of the opening, but the second half was a little dull and Anne never bloomed into an interesting character to me.
Thanks to William Morris and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review....more
This is a heartbreakingly amazing novel. The writing is so good - vivid, figurative, immediate - and the three lives that this novel focuses on ar4.5
This is a heartbreakingly amazing novel. The writing is so good - vivid, figurative, immediate - and the three lives that this novel focuses on are complex and cruel. Dennis-Benn is just a phenomenal writer, and she brings her characters so fully to life....more
This is a very sweet book, and Blake's characters feel very true. Their anxieties, insecurities, and responses resonate and feel credible. I think thaThis is a very sweet book, and Blake's characters feel very true. Their anxieties, insecurities, and responses resonate and feel credible. I think that I might have liked this book better in print because I didn't love the narration, but it worked very well for me as a character-driven book....more
This book is so good! The premise is that Tequila Leila has just been murdered and left in a trash can, but she still has cognizance for 10 minutes, 3This book is so good! The premise is that Tequila Leila has just been murdered and left in a trash can, but she still has cognizance for 10 minutes, 38 seconds. The first half of the book is character driven and tells her story and that of her five close friends. It's a novel of outsiders and found family, and there is a lot of smart social and gendered critique woven in. The second half takes a different turn and becomes not quite but almost a dark farce. It is moving and heartbreaking and also kind of funny. I was surprised by how much of a page turner it turned into without losing any of the literary quality.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
I was curious about Hazelwood's foray into YA fiction and was pleasantly surprised. This novel is set in the competitive chess world and has many of tI was curious about Hazelwood's foray into YA fiction and was pleasantly surprised. This novel is set in the competitive chess world and has many of the same elements in her other stories - a hulking, brooding male, lots of misogyny, and a hella talented heroine who gets in her own way.
I don't know a thing about chess, but you really don't need to know anything to follow the story. The protagonist Mallory is a believable character, and the chemistry between the leads works. If you have like Hazelwood's other novels, you'll like this one too.
Thanks to Edelweiss and G.P. Putnam's for young readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
I completely understand why this book has been so popular. It's a pirate story with a badass middle-aged female protagonist who goes on adventures. ThI completely understand why this book has been so popular. It's a pirate story with a badass middle-aged female protagonist who goes on adventures. The premise is so appealing. And I loved so many things about this book - the setting, the voice of the protagonist, the characters, the atmosphere. I was grabbed right away by the narrator's voice and drawn into the story. It's so well done.
For me, the problem is the genre. The quest tale is just not that interesting to me. As much as I enjoyed watching Amina extricate herself from one impossible, life-threatening situation after another, I started to get a bit bored either by the pacing or the quest. For me (and I know this isn't true for everyone), it was like the sinking feeling that I get about 2/3 of the way through any action movie where I know I'm going to have to sit through an extended car chase or some other action sequence before the ending. I knew there were a number of hoops that Amina was going to have to jump through before the end, and I wasn't that excited about them.
This is a superb collection of short stories centered on the Lebanese immigrant community in Dearborn, MI. Zeineddine has created characters with distThis is a superb collection of short stories centered on the Lebanese immigrant community in Dearborn, MI. Zeineddine has created characters with distinct voices in situations with a strong sense of place and cultural identity. The stories are moving and immersive, but never sentimental. There are a few stories that fall flat in the middle of the collection, but the collection is strong overall. My favorites are Speedoman, I Have Reason to Believe My Neighbor is a Terrorist, and Rabbit Stew.
Thanks to Libro.fm and Edelweiss for the ARC/ALC....more
Oh, I loved this book! This is a book about depression, family, friendship, and acceptance. Napolitano renders William's depression, as well as the chOh, I loved this book! This is a book about depression, family, friendship, and acceptance. Napolitano renders William's depression, as well as the challenges the Padavano sisters face, in such a compassionate way that the book is both comforting and heartbreaking. The characters are fully realized and believable, and Napolitano makes you care about everyone, even when they behave badly. The homage to Little Women is subtly woven in, and it doesn't matter if you've read Alcott's book or not. If you have, the Easter eggs are a delight, such as Cecelia's career as an artist of powerful women. This was such a lovely read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I didn't know what to expect when I started this, and it was a delightful surprise. Like Lessons in Chemistry, it starts in the 1950s with all the sexI didn't know what to expect when I started this, and it was a delightful surprise. Like Lessons in Chemistry, it starts in the 1950s with all the sexism that the era exudes. Women are outraged by the restrictions put on them, and they turn into dragons. As a reader, I was outraged too - in large part because it reflects our current moment's anti-womanism, book banning, anti-trans attitudes, stories of sexual predation, rejection of science, and hostility to anyone seen as other.
The men in the novel are truly awful, especially the protagonist's dad. It would bother me that the male characters are such caricatures, but the story is so allegorical that they are more expressions of attitudes than realist characters.
This is a well-constructed historical fantasy novel that speaks to our current moment....more
This collection of first person accounts eschews inspiration porn and instead tells the stories of disabled people navigating the frustrations and lacThis collection of first person accounts eschews inspiration porn and instead tells the stories of disabled people navigating the frustrations and lack of accommodations in our everyday world. The accounts are eye-opening and infuriating, such as the deaf man in prison who had to endure cruel and thoughtless disregard for basic accommodations and dignity. Despite his clear need, the prison system refused to provide a sign language interpreter and handcuffed his hands behind his back during his hearing, meaning that he had no means of communication. Or the woman on crutches who recounted the indignities, lack of respect, and inconvenience of relying on the paratransit system in NYC. Along with hours-long waits and disrespect and racism from drivers, she was forced to watch one driver pee into a bottle right in front of her just because he knew he could get away with it.
Every first-person account in this collection opened my eyes to an aspect of disabled life that is made infinitely more difficult because of indifference, ignorance, and lack of respect for people in disabled bodies....more
The narration for this is wonderful, and the plot is brilliantly crafted along the lines of 4 weddings and a funeral. It takes the first storyline in The narration for this is wonderful, and the plot is brilliantly crafted along the lines of 4 weddings and a funeral. It takes the first storyline in a new direction, while keeping the best elements of the first. It does, however, involve a LOT of agonizing should we or shouldn't we conversations that felt repetitive and exhausting. It ends brilliantly though, so all is forgiven. ;-)
Thanks to Edelweiss, Libro.fm, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the review copy of the ebook and audio in exchange for an honest review....more
I had heard good things about The Verifiers, but it was still a delightful surprise. The main character is smart, headstrong, and thoughtful, and she'I had heard good things about The Verifiers, but it was still a delightful surprise. The main character is smart, headstrong, and thoughtful, and she's determined to approach life like her favorite detective. The mystery itself is also very timely and conceptually interesting. Claudia works for a company that verifies whether people are telling the truth in their dating profiles, and this gets her investigating and thinking about data collection and privacy. Pek gives the reader a satisfying mystery with a fully developed main character dealing with her own complicated family dynamics and personal life.
I'd give it a 4.5 if I could. My only small quibble with the book was that the ending got overcomplicated.
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley and Vintage Books in exchange for an honest review....more
This is a really sweet book, and it's thoroughly enjoyable. For a light rom-com, there is a lot here in terms of character building, atmosphere, and eThis is a really sweet book, and it's thoroughly enjoyable. For a light rom-com, there is a lot here in terms of character building, atmosphere, and emotional healing. And it's also genuinely funny. The side characters are brilliant and add a lot to the story. I half read and half listened to this, and the narrator (Joe Jameson) creates a very textured world with unique voices for all the characters.
Highly recommended if you are looking for a rom-com or a light read. I already loaded the sequel onto my phone....more
The set up for this book sounded so interesting - a baker navigating her queer identity in an intolerant region of the country, fake bridesmaiding, anThe set up for this book sounded so interesting - a baker navigating her queer identity in an intolerant region of the country, fake bridesmaiding, and pursuing a cool love interest. Unfortunately, the story itself didn't have the momentum that I would have expected and spent a lot of time in the main character's head as she worried. As a result, the book didn't really work for me....more
Giving a star rating to this book feels beside the point. Baldwin's novel isn't a "fun" read, but it's an exquisite exploration of identity, racism, hGiving a star rating to this book feels beside the point. Baldwin's novel isn't a "fun" read, but it's an exquisite exploration of identity, racism, hypocrisy, and morality. Baldwin's style mirrors the homiletic, and the entire book made more sense to me when I found out that he had grown up in the Pentecostal tradition and had himself been a preacher. Much of the novel takes place in a church and includes extended sermons as John battles with his relationship with his stepfather and religion. The story amplifies young John's sense of his stepfather's hypocrisy in holding himself above all others in his relationship with God, despite his cruelty and selfishness.
I can imagine that this book rewards re-reading, especially since the chronology and relationships between the characters is difficult to track on a first read.
I've been waiting *forever* for a copy of Boyfriend Material through my library's Libby account, so I decided to give this other, less well-known seriI've been waiting *forever* for a copy of Boyfriend Material through my library's Libby account, so I decided to give this other, less well-known series a try. I listened to it on a long distance drive and found it delightful. I'm a total sucker for anything that gives (even an illusory) behind-the-scenes glimpse at most anything. This one follows the characters on a pseudo Bake Off competition, which I loved.
The main character Rosaline comes through as strong and capable, despite the attempts of everyone around her to make her question her life choices. Some of the strongest passages come in the moments when Rosaline pushes back on someone passive aggressively judging her.
The narration by Fiona Hardingham is well done....more
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