Recent Reads : Net Galley Edition #1
8/12/2020
Dear Girl
by Aija Mayrock
This poetry collection packs such a severe punch. Touching and memorable, Aija Mayrock successfully manages to write about such an array of struggles we women face in so few poems. As with every collection of writing, there will be some sections that resonate more with certain readers. I definitely felt that. Yet, rather than making it fall short for me in a rating sense, it made me want to give it a reread to educate myself on the problems that women who aren't in my position face. This is a collective look at a gender that is often pitted against one another, and yet somehow wraps itself up in a 'we should all be in this together' bow. Beautifully done.
Format: Audiobook
Release Date: April 7th, 2020 (no idea why this was still on NetGalley, but okay.)
Goodreads: Dear Girl
Everything Here Is Under Control
by Emily Adrian
Amanda is a first-time mum and she's struggling. Feeling like she has no support from her boyfriend, she gets into the car one night and turns up on the doorstep of her estranged friend Carrie. As teens, the two women were inseparable. But after Carrie had a child while in school, the relationship between her and Amanda fizzled into the awkwardness that is now an unspoken thing between them.
I enjoyed this book, I did, but I felt like the main selling point and focus of the story is the almost brutal way that Emily Adrian wrote about having a newborn. As someone who has no children, I don't feel comfortable recommending it for that aspect as I have no way of knowing whether it was well done or not. I don't feel like I've ever read about motherhood in such a raw sense before, but again, I'm not able to guarantee that this is what it's like.
What I liked about this book was the writing. It flowed beautifully and I think the author did a great job at intertwining scenes from the past and present day without it ever feeling clunky. The cover is also beautiful. My main issue with it was that I never fully bought Carrie and Amanda as close, and I think that's partly why this book was just 'okay' for me. Even when we read about them as teenagers, I grew frustrated at the lack of chemistry. There's also a 'twist' near the end of the book that I felt was unnecessary. It seemed like a very convenient way of explaining why the two lost touch. To summarize, this book was just okay. It was a decent enough reading experience, but I will very likely forget I even read this come 2021. I would read more by the author as I had no problems with the writing, pacing, and overall feel of the book. The story just lacked for me because of the characters.
Format: Audiobook
Release Date: July 28th, 2020
Goodreads: Everything Here Is Under Control
Night Swim
by Megan Goldin
This was a whirlwind of a thriller. Firstly, I'd argue that this was much more of a suspenseful courtroom novel rather than what we've come to know as a traditional 'thriller'. It had some mystery elements but was by no means something that keeps you on the edge of your seat. But it was very entertaining and kept my brain turning.
Rachel, a true crime podcast host is trying to switch things up for the new season of her show, so she ventures off to a small town to cover a controversial rape case that is underway. But after she gets to the town, she begins to receive peculiar letters from a girl named Hannah who is hoping that Rachel will help her unravel the death of her sister. The case itself was eerily similar to the Brock Turner case that Chanel Miller wrote about in her memoir 'Know My Name'. That left this book feeling a little.. icky. I think the author was heavily influenced by the true story, yet I can't find a similar comment by the author saying anything about this. Maybe it was just one very odd coincidence. I don't know.
Overall, I liked this book but wouldn't read it again. The audiobook was great though, I really liked the narrator.
Format: Audiobook
Release Date: August 4th, 2020
Goodreads: The Night Swim
Coffee Days Whiskey Nights
by Cyrus Parker
This was a truly astonishing collection of modern poetry.
I'm not non-binary, but I have struggled with mental and physical health from a young age, so the soul shattering bluntness of the first half of this book was both a blessing and yet hard to read. I felt like the author was writing my darkest thoughts. And yet I turned the last page of this with a smile on my crying face. Why? Because the author managed to seamlessly turn this collection into a spark of hope. It was truly beautiful.
I'd also like to quickly give a shoutout to the amazing color play between the 'good' poems and the 'bad' ones. It created an atmosphere for the words, especially as I read this as an ebook.
Again, incredible. Read this.
Format: ebook
Release Date: September 8th, 2020
Goodreads: Coffee Days Whiskey Nights
Fangs
by Sarah Anderson
Well, this was bloody adorable! (Heh.. heh.. pun intended) I wasn't overly familiar to this artist prior to being urged to read it by my husband. I'm a huge vampire fan, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a lifestyle, and this graphic novel was the perfect amount of cheesy nostalgia with modern jokes.
Firstly, the artwork was incredibly cute. I had to fight the urge to screenshot so many funny sections to send to people. It had the perfect amount of cutesy while still staying in the almost gothic-like feel.
I wasn't expecting the script to be as humorous as the drawings, but here we are. I laughed a lot, especially as the writer really took advantage of every dog-like pun possible. Jimmy and Elise were perfect together, and this is now a ship I will go down on.
Format: ebook
Release Date: September 1st, 2020
Goodreads: Fangs
little scratch
by Rebecca Watson
This has to be one of the most original formats I've ever read for a book. Told through a stream of consciousness, this is a collection of all the thoughts the protagonist has throughout a single day in her life.
I didn't really know what this going to read like when I first started it as the cluttered pages of multiple thoughts at once confused me. Yet the more I read, the easier to become to follow.
This was an incredibly immersive book, so it's really hard to accurately review, so stick with me. Firstly, I adored the main character. She was blunt yet quiet, which is something I very much relate to. At times her thoughts were almost suffocating as her anxiety kept rearing it's ugly head, and when she'd be continuously reminded of her recent sexual assault it felt like all the air was sucked out of your body. Once you get a flow going while reading this, you almost forget that her thoughts aren't your own. Which is an incredible feat by the author.
All in all, this book won't be for everyone. But if you connect with the story, it will be a very memorable read. Give it a shot.
Format: Ebook
Release Date: 11th August, 2020
Goodreads: little scratch
Are you on NetGalley? What is something that you've recently been approved for? Let me know!
Ways I Use Rosehip Oil | Natural Beauty
8/07/2020
A year or so ago my husband bought me a bottle of pure rosehip oil after me going on and on about it for months. I'd read many positive things about the natural product in skincare routines, and given my sensitive skin I was quite curious. I think I've now gotten familiar enough with the product to confidently give some recommendations on how to use it. Without further ado, let's go..
Using rosehip oil as a facial oil offers such incredible results. Within a week or two of adding it to my nighttime skin regime I could both see and feel results. My skin was noticeably softer to the touch, the uneven colouring on my t-zone area became less noticeable, and my skin just looked plumper. It felt hydrated which isn't an easy feat for me in the Winter months. I never felt like the oil made my skin feel or look greasy once it absorbed. I think I first saw Alexandria Morgan use it in it's purest form in her skin routine.
As a treat every now and again (in other words, when I'm not feeling lazy) I add a few splashes to a handful of my usual body lotion and let my skin drink it up with more enthusiasm than normal. I can't rate this enough. I use unscented body lotion so it does leave a semi rosy smell, but my inner Grandma loves that. If I have a dry spot that needs more TLC, I'll rub the oil in by it's lonesome and I usually get instant results. It's rather magical.
In a similar fashion, when my skin is feeling a tad dehydrated I will add a splash to my bath. This is easily a great way of getting all the rosehip absorbed into my skin. Oils, bubble bath, and maybe some Epsom salts is a recipe for the ultimate relaxing bath.
Ever found yourself panic rushing in the morning as you realise you need a leg shave? I find the oil perfect for the dreaded dry shave. I drop a few hefty splashes on my skin, rub it slightly in, shave, and then wipe away with a dry flannel. With this method I haven't found my skin breaking out in ingrowing hairs, or developing a horrid shavers rash. Instead the legs feel moisturised, smooth, and ready for the world.
Ever found yourself panic rushing in the morning as you realise you need a leg shave? I find the oil perfect for the dreaded dry shave. I drop a few hefty splashes on my skin, rub it slightly in, shave, and then wipe away with a dry flannel. With this method I haven't found my skin breaking out in ingrowing hairs, or developing a horrid shavers rash. Instead the legs feel moisturised, smooth, and ready for the world.
My most recent discovery has been the joy massaging a few drops of rosehip oil into my scalp an hour or so before a shower. After washing it out, I shampoo my hair as normal. It leaves the roots of my hair bouncy and incredibly soft. I was worried it would create a greasy feel like coconut oil. But nope. It's great, especially if you're like me and tend to overuse the dry shampoo.
All in all, I think the $10-$15 price tag for this 500ml bottle is definitely worth it. I use it so much and I've still barely gone through 1/4 of the bottle, despite having it for over a year.
All in all, I think the $10-$15 price tag for this 500ml bottle is definitely worth it. I use it so much and I've still barely gone through 1/4 of the bottle, despite having it for over a year.
What natural beauty product do you stand by?
Recent Reads #2
8/04/2020
It's been 3ish weeks since my first Recent Reads, so it's about time that I do another. I the time between these two posts I did partake in The Reading Rush, so I have a whole other blog post discussing the books I read for that (The Reading Rush Wrap-Up 2020), therefore I won't include them on here. Let's get into the books!
Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, #6)
by Richelle Mead
As mentioned in my first Recent Reads I had been rereading the Vampire Academy series over the past month or so. This was the final book and, boy, I didn't remember squat. I really thought I had a good gauge on how this book series ended but now I'm wondering whether I was just vividly remembering the many fanfictions I read about these wonderful characters. All in all, I'd give the series a 3 out of 5 star rating. I loved books two to four. The first, fifth, and sixth were a little mediocre. I still vouch for this series for anyone that enjoys a good YA paranormal romance with good female representation.
Bringing Down The Duke
by Evie Dunmore
Annabelle is one of the first women to study at Oxford University through a scholarship, under the condition that she involves herself in the rising women's suffrage movement. Through this she meets the Duke of Montgomery. You can guess what happens next. This book is a wonderful mix of historical and contemporary. It's everything you could want from a smutty rom-com with a historical backdrop. It's silly, wonderful, and smart. I lived for the banter between Annabelle and Sebastian. I would wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook of this, the obnoxious accents seemed to extenuated the overall atmosphere of the book. This is an incredible debut and I can't wait to read the other books in this series that are yet to be released.
The Leisure Seeker
by Michael Zadoorian
The Robinas have shared a wonderful life for more than sixty years. Now in their eighties, Ella suffers from cancer and John has Alzheimer's. Yearning for one last adventure, the pair take off in their beloved RB 'The Leisure Seeker' for one last adventure to Disneyland. This book leaves me feeling torn. While I really enjoyed the writing and it made me tear up so many times, I can't help but feel like it could've been more. It felt a little too 'slice of life', I wanted to know more of their marriage before the illnesses. It lacked the 'A Man Called Ove' feel, I guess.
Hunger
by Roxane Gay
This was my first proper book by Roxane Gay (I previously started Bad Feminist but have not yet finished), and wow, this incredible woman has a way of writing with such bluntness that I, as a writer, can only aspire to be. Just as the title says, this is a memoir told through the authors body. Raped at a young age, Roxane found solace and comfort in making her body bigger, stronger. In her early twenties she used her body as an excuse to be hurt by others, which eventually led to bulimia. Weight is always a complicated thing to write about and I can't begin to fathom the bravery that it took for the author to write about such a thing for the length of a novel. However, I found some sections to be a tad repetitive which was definitely a stylistic choice for the writing, but yeah, it sometimes made the book read more like a series of blog posts. I would definitely recommend the audiobook if you're planning on picking this up.
Convenience Store Woman
by Sayaka Murata
Keiko has worked at the same convenience store for eighteen years. After all her time there, she feels like her and the store are one of the same. Growing tired of the questions that are being constantly put upon her (when are you getting married? Why do you still work there?) she decides to take action.
This was such a quirky little novel with a very memorable protagonist. Keiko was a wonderful main character, I loved being inside her mind. She gave me huge 'Eleanor Oliphant' vibes (but on acid). I didn't expect to laugh as much as I did, the humor was very deadpan but as a Brit I loved it. The only reason it's not getting a better rating is that as much as I loved the first half, the rest of the book was a huge letdown and I didn't find it very necessary. I would've happily stayed with Keiko inside of the convenience store if it meant that we didn't meet the man that came into her life. God, I hated him. And his presence in the story really turned this book into something that it didn't need to be. It ended up feeling rather unfeminist and icky. I'm definitely interested in reading more from the author, this ending just fell very flat for me.
The Five People You Meet In Heaven
by Mitch Albom
What if at the end of your life, you don't see a white light? What if instead you meet five people from your past who have had an impact on your life? This is such a short book that I don't want to give a proper summery as I think you'd benefit from going into this blind, like I did. This is one of those books that's always on 'books you have to read before you die' lists, and with good reason. This is a heartfelt look at life, it makes you question what direction you're taking, and in try Mitch Albom style, it's devastatingly sad at parts. I liked this book, but it didn't pack as much of a punch like I wanted. It's still worth a read, I just think my expectations were a little too high.
Writes & Lovers
by Lily King
Casey Peabody is a thirty-one year old aspiring writer who is struggling with the sudden death of her mother. Her day job as a waitress at a popular restaurant is mainly her social distancing interactioning, while all her free time is devoted to writing her book. This was a truly beautiful story about loss, love, anxiety, and writing. The protagonist felt raw, intimate, unlikable at times, and yet.. so real. This was what I've hoped so many novels of this genre would be. The plot got a tad convenient near the end, but it didn't bother me. The thing I mainly appreciated about Casey's story was that it had the means to be a coming-of-age story, but she's in her thirties. I feel like we don't really get this kind of story for that age-group in literature. But we should. It's realistic, and will undoubtedly help certain people feel not alone and isn't that the main reason we read? I need to read more by this author.
What book are you most looking forward to reading this month?
The Reading Rush Wrap-Up 2020
7/27/2020
The Reading Rush is officially over for another year and yikes, that was some experience. I won't delve into all the problems I had with how the creators/hosts of this readathon failed their audience and the black community by disrespecting their book club pick as it isn't my voice that ought to be heard, but I will say that I read Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid earlier this year and loved it. It's a book that matters, especially during this eye-opening period of history. Read it, and then discuss it. Never use black authors and their stories for clicks; a sentence that should never be needed to say. I won't be participating in this readathon again. These are the books I read over the past week:
The Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger
Holden Caulfield is a sixteen-year-old juvenile boy who has just got kicked out of his boarding school. There begins a few nights of pure insanity for the youngster. This is arguably a modern classic that divides most readers - people either love it or hate it. I'm so disappointed to say that I sit right on the fence. I didn't hate this book like some do, but I also didn't really enjoy it. It was 'meh'. I found the writing compelling and it definitely gave me The Perks of Being a Wallflower vibes, but the overall story and characters left me feeling cold.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
by Shirley Jackson
Gothic books are something I always enjoy, but I seem to forget to pick anything up in this genre. So I was excited to bump this up my TBR for this prompt. I definitely enjoyed this book more The Haunting On Hill House, I felt like the overall story was less confusing and the characters were all more likable. I did this via audiobook after someone on Bookstagram recommended it, and I'm so glad I did. The narrator really empathized the youth of Mary Katherine Blackwood, which I may of forgotten if it wasn't for the voice actor. I didn't think this story read as a gothic thriller however, it was much more of a creepy contemporary so I'm glad I didn't put it aside for this years Spookathon. If you don't know, this is a story of a young girl and her sister, Constance, who have been shunned by their community after their entire family were murdered.
A Simple Favor
by Darcy Bell
A mommy blogger starts blogging about her friend who vanished. Which raises the question of every domestic thriller ever - did the husband do it? I watched the movie adaption of this last year and really enjoyed the insanity of it all. It was so cliche in the best way. The book however fell a little short. It was the epitome of a 3 star thriller that you read and inevitably forget. I definitely think that I might've given this a 2 star rating if I hadn't watched the movie first, as it helped me envision Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively as the duel protagonist of this book which made both characters instantly more likable.
Nimona
by Noelle Stevenson
This is a graphic novel about a girl who becomes the sidekick to a villain. Adorable! I never thought I'd laugh so much when reading a graphic novel, but here we are. The small amount of characters in this story really amplified my interest overall, it helped me connect to each main character which I've never really experienced before when not reading a traditional novel. The artwork was fun but descriptive, just a great well rounded book. Would 110% recommend.
The Girl Who Fell from the Sky
by Heidi W. Durrow
After the death of her mother and siblings, a mixed girl moves in with her black Grandmother which leads to an identity crisis when it comes to race. This book left me feeling incredibly torn. Every time I started to enjoy the story, the author would write such a questionable sentence that I couldn't in good conscience give this a higher rating than 2 stars. The author used so many racist slurs to describe the black characters, which is disheartening but also conflicting as I'm unsure whether I ought to take offence as a white woman (especially as the author herself is mixed).
Between Shades of Gray
by Ruta Sepetys
This is about a young Lithuanian girl and her family who are deported by Stalin's Russians to a work camp in Siberia during WWII. I'd been wanting to pick this YA novel up for a few years now as it's a side of the war that we don't often hear about, and for that alone this was a fascinating novel. However, I wasn't overly fond of Ruta Sepetys writing (a problem I also had with Salt to the Sea), as it felt rather juvenile in comparison to my usual historical fiction. On one hand, duh, this is YA and books such as The Alice Network are adult fiction. But then I think of The Boy In The Striped Pajamas and feel a little more validated in my criticism. Meh.
The Mothers
by Brit Bennett
Here we have a beautiful book coming to save the entire reading rush for me. This debut novel is about a seventeen-year-old girl who decides to abort a child. The father, a 21-year-old man who works at a local seafood restaurant, asks his parents - a pastor and his wife - for the money for the surgery. There starts a slow falling domino effect that spreads throughout the lives of the people involved. I didn't know what to expect from this book as I'd heard a lot about the authors newest book The Vanishing Half, but nothing really about this. Halfway through the book I already knew I was going to give it 5 stars, a strong statement but yes. This was the most perfect mix of contemporary, lyrical writing, character development, and brought about a great discussion on race and abortion without ever feeling preachy. If this has ever been on your TBR, I urge you to boost it higher. It's a wonderful book.
Have you read Such A Fun Age? How did you like it?
My Lovely Wife in The Psych Ward is a heartbreaking memoir about a marriage that survived an illness that threatened to break it apart. Giulia and Mark were your average couple until they weren't. Before Giulia took ill, they were leading an average day-to-day life. Work was good, they had an apartment in San Francisco, a lovable dog, and enough savings to warrant thinking about starting a family. But a few sleepless nights, manic ramblings, and a mental breakdown later led to Giulia being committed to a psych ward for 14 days. From there Mark writes about the hurdles the couple faced, the life changes that had to be made for Giulia's safety, and the inner worries of someone who's in love with a mentally ill woman. And most importantly, how all of that led to her being committed for the second time.
I knew this memoir was going to break my heart, but I didn't expect how much of an impact it was going to make. This is a story about depression, but also about the power of love. How to love through the darkest of dark times, and how to do all of that without compromising yourself. Mark's voice is powerful throughout this book.
This entire book is the most authentic voice of depression I've read. If you've ever struggled with any form of mental health, I urge you to pick this up. I guarantee you'll find at least one paragraph that speaks to your heart.
The Reading Rush TBR 2020
7/17/2020
PROMPTS:
1/ Read a book with a cover that matches the colour of your birth stone.
2/ Read a book that starts with the word “The”.
3/ Read a book that inspired a movie you’ve already seen.
4/ Read the first book you touch.
5/ Read a book completely outside of your house (or about the outdoors/by a window).
6/ Read a book in a genre that you’ve always wanted to read more of.
7/ Read a book that takes place on a different continent than where you live.
2/ Read a book that starts with the word “The”.
3/ Read a book that inspired a movie you’ve already seen.
4/ Read the first book you touch.
5/ Read a book completely outside of your house (or about the outdoors/by a window).
6/ Read a book in a genre that you’ve always wanted to read more of.
7/ Read a book that takes place on a different continent than where you live.
To be honest, I'm a little disappointed by the prompts as they aren't as challenging as I'd like them to be. But I get that it's more accessible this way, especially as some people's libraries are still closed due to Covid. I'm personally trying to only read books that are on my physical TBR.
PROMPT: "Read a book with a cover that matches the colour of your birth stone."
BOOK: Neisi Daughter by Monica Sone
I was born in June so my birthstones are Alexandrite and Pearl. I went with pearl as it's easier to find something that's.. well.. pearly. I have three choices for this prompt. Nesei Daughter by Monica Stone, Hunger by Roxanne Gay, and Unfiltered by Lily Collins. I'm obviously leaning more towards Neisi Daughter, but it's always good to have some backups! Nesei Daughter is a non-fiction about the experience of growing up Japanese American on Seattle's waterfront in the 1930s and to be subjected to "relocation" during World War II. This was written by a family member on my husband's side, so it makes it all the more interesting to me.
PROMPT: "Read a book that starts with the word "the"
BOOK: The Catcher In The Rye by J. D. Salinger
Am I psychotic for putting a modern classic that seems incredibly dense on my TBR for a readathon? Yup. Yay for insanity. I know I'm either going to love or hate this coming-of-age story with an apparent pompous main character. But I included it in my most recent '5 Star Book Predictions' so.. I'm hopeful?
PROMPT: "Read a book that inspired a movie you've already seen"
BOOK: A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell
A lot of people seem to be having trouble with this prompt but for me it was easy. I watched this movie starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively a while ago and ever since the book has sat on my TBR shelf gathering dust. I enjoyed the movie for what it was, but I've since heard that the book is rather different in tone - more thriller, less humor.
PROMPT: "Read the first book you touch"
BOOK: The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow
I chose to do this prompt by picking out 5 books on my TBR, and having my husband mix them up so I didn't know which I'd touch first. I landed on The Girl Who Fell from the Sky, which was a random book I picked up at a thrift store one day. It's about a biracial girl who is thrust into a black community after her parents both die and she's sent off to live with her grandmother. Since owning it, I've seen it on a multitude of lists of 'books you have to read' or 'own-voices books that matter'. I'm excited to read this.
PROMPT: "Read a book outside"
BOOK: Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
We're lucky enough to have a spacious garden, so I'm planning to read the entirety of Nimona sitting outside. I have no idea what is about other than it being middlegrade and that it's been loved by many booktubers. Quick to read, but hopefully entertaining!
PROMPT: "Read a book from a genre that you've always wanted to read more from"
BOOK: We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson
Gothic horror is a genre that I've dipped my toes into, but never fully immersed myself with. I stupidly keep putting books like these off for the winter months/Spookathon, but they're really starting to pile up so I'm think I'm good. Plus Summer always seems to bring out my desire to read more horror/thriller. Just me?
PROMPT: "Read a book that takes place on a different continent than you"
BOOK: Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
I didn't want to breeze past this prompt by reading something set in Europe as that's a good portion of my bookcase, and I'm making an effort to read more diversely. So I'm going to Japan for my book, and reading the recently raved about book Convenience Store Woman. I have this on hold at my library, so I'll hopefully be picking it up sometime in the week. (Yeah, I know I said that I was only reading books I own.. but....) If for some reason I don't get my hands on this, I'll be reading Silence by Endo Shusaku, hence the photo.
So, there we have an overly ambitious TBR. My secret goal is to read 10 books, but if I put that into the universe it'll never happen. So let's pretend I didn't say that. Are you participating in The Reading Rush? What book are you most excited to read? And what's your least read genre?
Keep safe,
Recent Reads #1
7/12/2020
Spirit Bound
by Richelle Mead
I've been rereading the Vampire Academy series for over a month now, and it's such a blast. I've spoken before about my love for this series, but I was a little hesitant to give it a reread in case it wasn't as enjoyable as I remembered. A lot of Twilight fans have very likely read the first book in this paranormal series during the era of House Of Night, Fallen, Hush, Hush, and The Vampire Diaries. But I doubt that many continued as the series really does take a huge turn for the better. I adore Rose as a protagonist, especially as she was one of the first true kickass heroines 11-year-old Anne read in a YA series. Is it a sometimes silly series without depth? Yeah, but it's fun. Spirit Bound is the fourth installment in the series, and though it's my least favourite, I'm excited to pick up the next and final book. I'm still debating whether I want to read the spin-off series Bloodlines.
★★.5/5
Girl, Woman, Other
by Bernardine Evaristo
This is an interwoven story of twelve voices, each voice being a woman. All of the characters lead vastly different lives, whether that's because of their upbringing or just the era that they lived through. We read about daughters, their mothers, and a different woman all together who's story is somehow woven into the others. What I found particularly striking about this novel was Evaristo's ability to create such an array of unique women, without it ever feeling repetitive. I could clearly differentiate each character. As with any book that is essentially a collection of stories, you enjoy some sections more than others. For that reason I gave Girl, Woman, Other a 4+1/2 star rating. It was beautifully written, and surprisingly quick to go through despite it's hefty length. If it's been even remotely on your radar, I strongly recommend it.
★★★★/5
A Closed and Common Orbit (Wayfarers #2)
by Becky Chambers
Picking up right where The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet left off, we follow two characters who have ventured off for an adventure of their own. The synopsis for this is a huge spoiler for the end of book one, so be aware of that if you look this one up! I was excited to pick this up, as I was excited to see what Chambers could do with a more condensed character list. Book one had so many characters - hell, an entire crew - which I did find overwhelming at times. I'm always going magnate more to character driven books, but especially when a novel focuses more on specific characters. I gave TLWTASAP (Bloody hell) a 5 star rating, and yet I much preferred A Closed and Common Orbit. So.. you can pretty much gather how great of a writer Chambers is. This book had such diversity and representation, yet never felt preachy or try-hard. It was a beautiful story that touched my heart. My only quim with it overall was that I felt the ending was rushed. It could've blossomed with an extra 50 pages.
★★★★★/5
The Poet X
by Elizabeth Acevedo
Told through verse, this is about a young girl in Harlem who discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world. Last month I read Clap When You Land and instantly ordered The Poet X from my library. I didn't enjoy Acevedo's's debut quite as much as her new release, but it was still absolutely beautiful writing. Her books seem to be an entire experience that I can't help but fall head over heels for. I'm already planning on reading With The Fire On High soon.
★★★★★/5
Pet Sematery
by Stephen King
When the Creeds move into a beautiful old house in rural Maine (of course), it all seems too good to be true: physician father, beautiful wife, charming little daughter, adorable infant son—and now an idyllic home. But the nearby woods hide a blood-chilling truth—more terrifying than death itself—and hideously more powerful. I have a rocky relationship with King's books, but I was hopeful when picking up this known favourite, as so many people have said that it's his one truly creepy book. I get it, okay, the first 1/3 was indeed creepy. But god, did it drag from there. In classic Stephen King style, this could've been 100 pages less and would've definitely gained from it.
★★/5
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
by Michelle McNamara
True Crime is a genre that I've been interested in for about a year now, but never knew where to start when it came to books. This was available via audiobook at my library, so I randomly started it one night. Yeah, I didn't get much sleep that night. This book revolved around the now caught Golden State Killer and a bloggers obsession to find him. Michelle McNamara sadly passed away before this book got published, which only adds to the overall intensity of the book. I'm giving this a 3 star rating, as though I did really enjoy the first half, I got a little bored during the 2012 sections. I felt as though the book could've been a little 'more to the point'. But nevertheless, if you're interested in dipping your toes into this genre, I think this is a great place to start. It definitely spiked my interest.
★★★/5
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5 Star Book Predictions : Part II
7/08/2020
Time for another guessing game! Last year I did a 5 Star Book Predictions post and have since read them all and even wrote all about my eventual ratings in my Prediction Update post. Go me. I figured it was worthwhile to do a part 2. I don't know about you but I have piles of books on my TBR that I have a gut feeling about, I feel like I will give them a whooping 5 star rating but yet I continuously chose to pick up something else. Is it the fear of the book letting me down? Or am I just lazy? Probably both! Like last time, I'm going to categorise each pick. Because I like rules. Let's get onto my second batch of predictions...
The Modern Classic:
Catcher In The Rye
by J. D. Salinger
A 'banned' classic that has been said to be the The Perks Of Being A Wallflower of it's time. This is a sceptical but honest prediction. My husband loathed this book, like, one of his most hated books of all time, and each review I see seems to be either glowing or bursting with annoyance. I can look past unlikable characters, enjoy a book centred around mental health, and am a sucker for a tale of young adolescence. I really hope I like this.
Side-note: Since writing this blog post, I've read J.D. Salinger's other novel Franny and Zooey and absolutely hated it. Oh, dear. Hope for me.
The Well-Loved Author:
After I Do
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I have absolutely no idea what this is about and I'm refusing to look it up as I like going into Taylor Jenkins Reid's book completely blind. I'm sorry. Click HERE to venture to the Goodreads page if you want to know it's synopsis. From the title I'm guessing it's about a marriage..? All I know and all I need to know is that it's written by one of my favourite authors (she's currently tied for my favourite author with Fredrik Backman). This is the last backlist TJR book I have yet to read, so it's high on my TBR.
The Non-Fiction:
The Unabridged Journals Of Sylvia Plath
by Sylvia Plath
This terrifies me. If I put it on this list then I have to read it within the next few months. My husband bought this for me for Christmas as I've been going on and on about how much I want to read it since the literal age of 14. But I'm so scared about whether or not I'm going to like it after I've built it up so highly in my mind. Is this what it's like to be a modern day Star Wars fan? Repeat with me: I will not be daunted by big books, I will not be daunted by big books...
The Recommended:
Bringing Down The Duke
by Evie Dunmore
This book has been making the rounds through Booktube and though it's had varying reviews, I'm already sold. A historical fiction with smutty goodness and a smartass female protagonist? Yes, all the yes. From what I can remember, this is about one of the first females to earn a place in Oxford, only her placement comes with the price of having to sway a notoriously strong-willed Duke into backing the slowly raising female's suffrage movement. In this I'm hoping for envious gowns, witty banter, female friendship, and one brooding Duke. I'm all in.
*The Yet-To-Be-Released:
Out Of Love
by Hazel Hayes
I've seen this marketed as a love story told in reverse, with the backdrop of a bittersweet break-up. Sounds utterly painful, right? Just my thing. Despite this being Hazel's debut novel, I'm already familiar with her writing style and a large chunk of my heart is already built up of love for it. So I'm pretty confident putting Out Of Love on this list. As a bonus, it's already been compared to Normal People by Sally Rooney and One Day by David Nichollas, both of which I loved. Everything is leading to a 5 star rating, and I've already pre-ordered. Something I never do. One might say I'm overly confident.
The Classic:
Anne Of Green Gables
by L. M. Montgomery
Over the years I've read a few version of this children's classic. Some were condensed versions of the entire series and others were entirely rewritten (looking at you, mother) but I don't think I've ever read the first original volume. I got gifted this gorgeous set by my husband last year and I want to make my way through all four books (I only have this and A Little Princess left), so what better time to finally fall into Anne's world? I've yet to read a female orientated children's classic that I haven't given 5 stars, so this will hopefully be a correct prediction.
So, there we have it. Hopefully I'll check in near the end of Summer with my eventual ratings and a whole new batch of predictions. What book on your TBR are you predicting you'll give 5 stars?
*Since writing this post, I've recieved and read Out Of Love. Spoiler: I gave it 5 stars! Yay! Off to a great start, people!
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