Brutally dark story, but a good plot. I just don't understand why the author would use the word 'eskimo' in 2018, and the editor would let it through.Brutally dark story, but a good plot. I just don't understand why the author would use the word 'eskimo' in 2018, and the editor would let it through. I do understand it's about 1978, but it was used by the narrator, and not in dialog. You could just say Inuit and actually respect the people, because a narrator is not a character, and narrators usually use words that are in usage NOW, not in the time of the story. Otherwise we'd be writing interesting sounding historical books.
Therefore no rating.
But it is an important story. It is very scary to think that (view spoiler)[a victim of abuse could be tried for the crime of, shock and gasp, defense. You're just supposed to let yourself get killed, I mean if you're a woman. (hide spoiler)] Scarier to think that could have been my mother, as she was a victim of my dad's abuse in front of my eyes. Thank god she knew when it was time to leave. This is a story of what happens when the woman doesn't know that....more
How I read this: free review copy for blog tour (via NetGalley)
What Beauty There Is was a tough read, and it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted. ItHow I read this: free review copy for blog tour (via NetGalley)
What Beauty There Is was a tough read, and it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted. It was a good thriller, but for a sensitive reader like me, there was too much gore and it was simply depressing, which took away greatly from my enjoyment of reading it. However, we can’t ignore that kids and teens in dangerous and precarious situations do exist, and these books are written so we would know more about these issues in society, and for that reason, they are important. Plus, the book did have really interesting and well-written characters. So if you like thrillers and have a tough skin for violence in books, you will probably enjoy this!
I thank the publisher and The Write Reads tours for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
What an amazing book! Maud & Addie was one oUPDATE: I've interviewed the author right here!
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
What an amazing book! Maud & Addie was one of the two books that brought me out of a massive reading slump. I just couldn't pry myself away. You really get invested in the characters and their situation, plus how they mature as they go through a survival or death situation. It's a book about sisterhood, even friendship – and it's unforgettable. And the characters just jump off the page from the very start – it's very well written.
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
This was a warm, touching, and ambitious middle grade story. I say ambitious, because how dHow I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
This was a warm, touching, and ambitious middle grade story. I say ambitious, because how do you write about such heavy and complicated things such as parents' cheating on each other, a brother you never knew about along with the problems his mother is having with drugs, and a beloved grandmother who suddenly doesn't remember who you are because of rapidly developing Alzheimer's - and still retain the feel of innocence that comes with a well-written middle grade novel? Well, Rule of Threes does that, and it's no small feat.
I thought it was very brave of the author to tackle these difficult themes in the book. What's more, an author will usually choose ONE theme and write about that - but as you can see, Rule of Threes, just like the name states, rather chooses three larger problems to tackle (I wonder if that was intentional - cause that's not why the book is named that way!) At first, when I was starting the book, I wondered that maybe there topics were a little too heavy for a children's novel - but then I slapped my silly head and realized that some of those children HAVE cheating dads and a brother who suddenly came out of nowhere, and maybe those other problems too (although hopefully not all of them at the same time...) So OF COURSE it needs to be written - those kids need it. And so do their friends, to form an appropriate way of responding to such situations.
For me, the biggest challenge was that the dad cheated in the past and has another child which eventually has to come live with them, but all of the problems are written equally well. (I must also mention that the dad was not demonized for this, but he also wasn't acquitted as if it was nothing - the fact of his cheating many years ago is dealt with as 'it happened and now we have to deal with everything, but we are here now'.) It was also very sad to read about the bit where the girl's grandmother gets Alzheimer's, and she doesn't know how to deal with it. The problem with the brother's real mother and drugs was definitely there, but it was presented softer than in most books - there is a great distance retained, there is barely any detail - so all we see is the child's perspective, but not the addict's perspective, which is great in my opinion for a kids' book, because with so many heavy topics, going into it with more detail would probably be too upsetting and dark.
What I loved best about this story, was that contrary to your first hunch - the brother and sister don't fight. We are used to half brothers and sisters hating each other's guts in these stories - not so here. It's very wholesome. Through the whole book, the main character learns to respect others more and develops greater compassion, but she does it in a very soft and gentle way - there are no grand revelations, rather than gradual changes. It's all done very well.
So when I say the characters are dealing with three heavy problems - they are, but the book isn't heavy at all. It's warm and slow, and not even too stressful, just sad in places. It even talks about ambition and shows the kids as greatly able in their area of interest (in this case, interior design - and I could say I learned a lot of facts I didn't know about it as well!) It was a great middle grade and it's definitely worth the read.
Triggers: (view spoiler)[mother in rehab, OD (no death), social workers, changing schools, divorce topics, cheating, Alzheimer's, some family fights. Please check other reviews too as I don't know if I've listed everything. (hide spoiler)]
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
How I read this: borrowed through BookBeat audio subscription
3.5 stars, rounded up. It was a great story, but simply heart-breakingly sad. I had to puHow I read this: borrowed through BookBeat audio subscription
3.5 stars, rounded up. It was a great story, but simply heart-breakingly sad. I had to put it away for a few weeks, because wow, couldn't bear to keep going.
Taylor Jenkins Reid, maaaaaan. That's all. You just go in with your expectations, and they're just met. Just like that. Three books in a row they're mTaylor Jenkins Reid, maaaaaan. That's all. You just go in with your expectations, and they're just met. Just like that. Three books in a row they're met. Damn impressive, I would say....more
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
On the way to Birdland is a story about how sometimes we need to cover physical distances, How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
On the way to Birdland is a story about how sometimes we need to cover physical distances, only so that we could open doors inside of our own selves. It’s a rather heavy story, but it’s very good YA, and I think it could resonate with a lot of young people – especially those who have dealt with some kind of trauma, perhaps even PTSD, those who are lonely or who have been betrayed, have family trouble. That, and it had quite a few twists, big twists along the road! Definitely worth a read.
How I read this: Free ebook copy received from publicist
This book was so good!!! I don’t even know where to start. I wish I could write a better revieHow I read this: Free ebook copy received from publicist
This book was so good!!! I don’t even know where to start. I wish I could write a better review for Prepped – cause it was amazing and it deserves it. But all I have is this bundle of emotion in my heart after finishing it, and I can’t translate it into words! It was so MUCH, and it was about so many things – abusive households, fanaticism, people not caring – but also love, caring for your close ones, fighting for your future, belief in the decency of others. I don’t know how to put it into words, but this book is definitely worth a read, and all I know is that when I finished the last page, I looked up and said “WOW”. And that’s why I think you should read it too.
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
Wow, I blazed through this one, literally started reading at 11 in the morning and was finiHow I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
Wow, I blazed through this one, literally started reading at 11 in the morning and was finished after dinner. And I'm going to be very unoriginal and give this yet another 5 stars, like I do for most books by Catherine Ryan Hyde, because they're just that awesome.
This story involves seven perfect puppies, as per the title, a really mature and cool teenager (loved her), her mother who's in an abusive marriage, and a really really decent man who has just been widowed. The rest is in the book itself, and it's way more fun if you read it than if I tell you! Suffice it to say, the author touches on the same important subjects she often talks about in her books - domestic violence, the will and courage to allow yourself to say no, compassion for living beings and dealing with grief. And above all of it - kindness. There's always kindness!
I was on the edge of my seat reading this one. Especially a sore subject for me, (view spoiler)[cause I was born in an abusive home unfortunately, and my mother also escaped my father - I remember being scared and crying when my dad was hitting my mom (in fact, it's my first memory). (hide spoiler)] So I was reading the book with sweaty palms. As usual in her stories, Ms. Hyde is brilliant with building tension and keeping you flipping the pages fast. You just want to know what happens.
And then there are the puppies. The book reminded me of this book called Atticus: A Woman’s Journey with the World’s Worst Behaved Dog a little bit! How the power of DOG changes people's lives for the better (lol). There should be more wholesome stories with dogs, where NOTHING. HAPPENS. TO. THE. DOGS!!! (Everyone always asks. This book is safe to read!)
Anyway, not a very coherent review this time, but you should definitely read the book!
Thank you Catherine Ryan Hyde, for writing these stories. They are important, they are also uplifting and so emotional. I'm so happy your books exist.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
I don’t believe I’ve ever said anything else about a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, but I enjHow I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
I don’t believe I’ve ever said anything else about a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, but I enjoyed My Name is Anton a lot. If you’ve liked her previous books, I’m sure you’ll like this one too. It’s another story about integrity, kindness and selfless love – although with a flavor that I haven’t seen in the past 3 or so books I’ve read of CR Hyde’s! (view spoiler)[IT'S A ROMANCE! (hide spoiler)]So this story has all the right elements, plus a little surprise in its make-up. What’s not to love?
The Cousins was a good twisty mystery of sins done in the past and family grudges still running strong How I read this: free review copy for blog tour
The Cousins was a good twisty mystery of sins done in the past and family grudges still running strong – it wasn’t one of those stories where you’re stressed or scared while reading it, which is a good thing – it’s more like a laid back, summer kind of read, but with a fast-paced and tense ending and quite a solid mystery. It’s definitely a good read!
Although slow to start, this was a good thriller. I liked the characters, and the main story was quite wild in the end. About the only drawbacks I can think of is the slow start and somewhat lacking execution of the final reveal (I felt like I wished the parents’ personalities came through more than they did, maybe more time was devoted to their backstory). However, I really did like the ending, and after the midpoint, the book kept me racing through the pages. If you want a rather light, but definitely engrossing mystery about family secrets, this will be right for you!
I thank the publisher and The Write Reads tours for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
How I read this: borrowed through Audible free trial
WOWOWOWOWOWOW. This was so amazing!!! It's been a while that I've read something this active, fillHow I read this: borrowed through Audible free trial
WOWOWOWOWOWOW. This was so amazing!!! It's been a while that I've read something this active, filled with so many themes and just... It just kept me at the edge of my seat - not to even mention the great production quality. This is essentially a show/movie, but with only sound. Even more fitting, because the main character is blind, but she's such a kickass, you can't take her with your bare hands.
There was so much that was awesome about this audio, I can't even begin to explain. It's a hilarious story, as well as it is serious and good-paced. But what I liked the most, perhaps, is that this is about a time before the internet, and yet - the people, they crave for the same thing - the shared spaces online, the way it can bring people together where without a connection they'd never be able to even talk. And it was so interesting to think about this low-tech world, despite which teens will still hack into anything that can let them express themselves, find like-minded individuals and just basically let themselves go.
Phreaks is really worth a go! I hope I find a book as good as this one soon. I've been on a five-star roll and I'm not sure how long it can last xD
How I read this: Free audiobook copy received through Libro.fm
Normally not much of a fantasy reader, I couldn't pass this one up, because I love anythHow I read this: Free audiobook copy received through Libro.fm
Normally not much of a fantasy reader, I couldn't pass this one up, because I love anything set in the Mesoamerican world. I have recently read Servant of the Underworld, so Black Sun felt like something incredibly enticing.
I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have made it through the book if I was reading a print version, but the audiobook is incredibly well done. The elements of epic fantasy which I know I would have been bored with on the page, came alive through audio. It's quite a complex story with many characters, and it's a bit of a shame this is a series, because I'll definitely forget all of them before I can read book 2! But I'm definitely curious about what happens. It is an epic, engaging story.
A couple of things to mention - one is that this book is about as inclusive as it gets - most characters are gender non-binary/non-conforming (I'm crossing my fingers I used the right term... You know what I mean!) or at the very least queer (loads of queer characters!) I think I remember a mention of someone trans? (That was a side character "in the wild" - completely culturally normal in the world of the book with the way it was presented, which was refreshing.) There were some special pronouns used regularly that I have no idea how I'd spell because this was on audio (maybe xe?), but from what I remember of some South American native cultures, it does check out - some of them did have a broader understanding of gender than our society generally does, which I found very cool. So this was great about the book.
Other than that, it is very different from Servant of the Underworld, because that book, while fantasy, was deeply rooted in the cultural research of those places the story was set in, and there was a lot of explaining about customs - sort of more historical, with fantasy elements. Meanwhile, Black Sun is more like... Straight up fantasy, that happens to be set in South America, god knows in what century. The line between fantasy and history blurs, and sometimes I wished I knew which facts and customs were real, and which were just fantasy, because I'm more interested in the historical cultures rather than the fantasy element. But most readers will enjoy that and it's by no means bad! Truthfully, there are too little books set in that culture and period, and these two are about as different as they can get - and yet we need all of these kinds, and more. (Please authors, write more.)
Overall, it was an interesting fantasy and if it engaged even me, not much of a fantasy fan, readers who enjoy this genre should love it. I certainly will be waiting for the sequels.
I thank the publisher and libro.fm for giving me a free copy of the audiobook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
DNF @ 20%
I was very happy to be approved for this book, and I'm very sorry to be unable to How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
DNF @ 20%
I was very happy to be approved for this book, and I'm very sorry to be unable to finish it and give a proper review. When I requested it, I didn't know it would severely trigger me. I will not be able to comment about what triggered me because it's highly personal, but the book may be triggering to victims of abuse, so please read other people's reviews to learn more about the triggers before you pick this book up.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Update: I have added FREE Printable Book Club Questions for Anxious People by Fredrik Backman to my review! Grab them and get everything set up for yoUpdate: I have added FREE Printable Book Club Questions for Anxious People by Fredrik Backman to my review! Grab them and get everything set up for your book club discussion.
How I read this: Free audiobook copy received through Libro.fm
How can a book be both hilarious and also heart-rending at the same time? Well, Anxious People is exactly that kind of story. It somehow manages to talk about complex and painful issues such as suicide, insecurity in life and our daily struggles at adulting in such a quirky and funny, yet graceful way you wouldn’t believe it.
In the end… I was speechless. This book was EVERYTHING, it was deep, funny and wonderful. After I finished it, I sat wide-eyed for a while, not knowing what to even write in my review. Anxious People encompasses kindness, our fumbling humanity, community, loneliness and feeling like you’re so alone and desperate, you may not want to live anymore. It tackles heavy and painful subjects, but it does so in such a graceful manner that you want to quote it to everyone you know. It puts the pin right into the center of the matter, and with some things in this book, I truly felt that the author simply said what I wanted to say all along about things, about life – except I couldn’t find the words – and he did it for me. This was a truly unforgettable read.
How I read this: Free audiobook copy received through Libro.fm
DNF @ 67%
I don't leave DNF ratings, but if I did, this book would probably get 4 stars.
IHow I read this: Free audiobook copy received through Libro.fm
DNF @ 67%
I don't leave DNF ratings, but if I did, this book would probably get 4 stars.
I've been "currently reading" this book for what, maybe close to a year now? I've decided to just post a DNF review, because I don't think I'm actually going to finish it.
Anyway, this is like a book of TED talks on how small acts can turn into big changes for the ones receiving it, how being kind even in the smallest ways matters and how painful experiences can be transformed into something that makes community life better. It's an inspiring collection and I believe it's best in audiobook form, because the narrators are all different and they tell their own story.
The book opens with Lady Gaga bravely talking about the experiences that shaped her and her wish to bring more kindness of the world. Most of those experiences, of course, are of people not showing kindness - like the bullying she's had to endure at school and things worse than that. I was shocked to hear this, because when I was a teen and saw Gaga's videos, I always felt like she must belong to the culture of my bullies - because they loved her, and the vibe the music and videos gave me wasn't anything I could relate to, but my bullies could. So it was world-shaking for me to hear that a lot of the experiences that messed me up for life, also messed Lady Gaga up - and she's not afraid to talk about it. It's honestly something I am very thankful for her for talking about.
This book is geared towards small stories of kindness and how they can change things. How small things can have big impacts. It works as a motivator for someone who is looking to help others, but it also works as consolation stories for someone who's been disappointed by how rude, awful and unkind the world can be.
What I really liked about this audiobook, and where it excels in doing something where others only talk about it, but don't do it - is inclusivity. Every story is narrated by the person who brought it to the table, so each story brings something new. But I was especially happy to realize that for some stories, I had to switch my audiobook to a slower speed in order to be able to understand better - because the book includes a few chapters narrated by people with speech difficulties (for example, one had Down syndrome, but there were others too). I was very happy about this - many people talk about inclusivity, but how many would actually put this content into their audiobook? Because there will definitely be people who will find reasons to criticize it. We often talk about diversity and inclusivity, but for a lot of us, it ends up only talk. Not so for this book!
Some of the stories are ready powerful and touching. Like the one where the woman whose six year old was shot in a mass school shooting, talks about forgiveness and the power of it. I cried during that talk, cause it's simply impossible not to.
But in the end, I didn't finish the book because I'm a mood reader, and since all the stories are separate, they're quite fragmented, and I have trouble finishing audiobooks as it is. However, I think it's just me! It's definitely a beautiful aim and some strong content.
I thank the publisher and libro.fm for giving me a free copy of the audiobook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
God, I loved this book... I loved it fiercely. I don't even know where to start?
First of alHow I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
God, I loved this book... I loved it fiercely. I don't even know where to start?
First of all, it's a book pretty much solely made up of women and nonbinary characters. I read all-male scifi too, and often like it all the same as any other scifi, but there is something, just that SOMETHING, about reading a book where everyone's... More or less like you. It's f...ing amazing. No other word for it.
And yeah, you're gonna ask - there WERE some men. But there were as many men as there are women in your typical 50s-60s scifi, and they're in the same unimportant, episodic roles. Robber. One-scene cute boyfriend. Guy who gets assassinated or the guy on the team who takes the shot. Guy who maintains the building. You're gonna say I'm petty, but HA. In your face, all-male scifi. You have all the scifis where we are but decorations and basically blinking, breathing furniture. So I'm going to gloat about one or two books where it's precisely the other way round.
But continuing with the characters. They're all tough, strong, smart, they've got character, they're gritty and interesting people. Most of them had really cool backstories, which always makes the book feel so much more real and multidimensional than just telling the "current story in question." They're tough and capable warriors, and this book feels a little like military-scifi even, with how much fighting we get to see. However... That's not to say that these characters don't have emotion. Oh no - they're fighting alongside those they love, so of course they care, and of course they hurt when something happens. The best part about the way the story was told for me was that it didn't feel the need to turn ex-military merc women into some muscular, feelingless fighting machines (which happens in scifi more often than you'd think, to juxtapose femininity with the ability to fight - as in, for some reason, you can't be both or something). They retain their emotional side and are not afraid of it, nor do they think it's any kind of weakness. It's the human bonds that keep them together.
I really liked the pacing of the story as well, because the start of the book was rather slow and definitely character-built, with a lot of detail on the backstories and world building. However, after the halfway mark it got so tense and INtense that i had to put away the book for brief breaks, because I thought my heart would leap out of my chest. It was definitely a lot of handle, and I mean that in the best way possible. What a wonderful book!
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
This book brought me straight back to high school. Even though I'm not Chinese, I could relHow I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
This book brought me straight back to high school. Even though I'm not Chinese, I could relate to a lot of things David lives through because my high school rhythm was similar to his - I graduated with honors and spent most of my time studying. Well, thankfully, I didn't have to work evenings after that as David did! Being a straight A's student is already hard enough, without the added work.
And although I don't normally enjoy being brought back into my teen memories as it wasn't my best time, I enjoyed this book - because David seems to be handling things much better than I did. I really liked his character, and sometimes I wondered how things would be now if I had it in me to get out of the situations the way David managed.
I liked the story, and it wraps up very nicely, and reads quickly. It doesn't have very big dramatic events - just regular things in the life of a Chinese teen, growing up in America - but all the better, because daily struggles are just as real as life drama. So I can definitely recommend this read.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
How I read this: Free audiobook copy received through Libro.fm
I couldn’t be more surprised about falling head over heels for Skyhunter – me, who is alHow I read this: Free audiobook copy received through Libro.fm
I couldn’t be more surprised about falling head over heels for Skyhunter – me, who is always cautious of YA – but I did. It’s really good! I was initially suspicious – I started it through an excerpt on NetGalley – and rated it 3 stars cause it failed to draw me in. But I still grabbed the audiobook review copy from Libro.fm because I can’t let a story sit unfinished. Turns out, the excerpt was cut off half a chapter too early – hook, line and sinker after that. Here's my full review for my updated 4 star rating: https://avalinahsbooks.space/skyhunte...
Evelina | AvalinahsBooks
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