i'm sorry but if you turn my teenage favorite books into graphic novels i am going to read themi'm sorry but if you turn my teenage favorite books into graphic novels i am going to read them...more
i could give a lot of reasons i wanted to read this, but the top one was always going to be "look at that gold detailing on the cover."
unfortunately ii could give a lot of reasons i wanted to read this, but the top one was always going to be "look at that gold detailing on the cover."
unfortunately it turns out it's orange, and that this book is not really for me.
i love short books, but that's because i typically read literary fiction, and books about the ennui in the life of a woman in her 30s don't normally need extra pages to clear up any confusion.
this, about polish magic in chicago featuring a romance, a movie theater showing alien as a cover, climactic, action-packed sequences like a guy trying to pick a flower, and musical mythical creatures, probably could've used some.
but it wasn't a bad time.
bottom line: i don't really know what happened in this book, but i might've liked it.
this was VERY DIFFERENT from a good girl's guide to murder.
alternate title proposal: a mean girl's guide to family drama and bullying the people arouthis was VERY DIFFERENT from a good girl's guide to murder.
alternate title proposal: a mean girl's guide to family drama and bullying the people around her.
it was a lot more dramatic, a lot less realistic, and a lot more filled with secrets and cringy moments of the meanest teenage girl you've ever encountered in your fiction-reading life making adults cry. which is...not my usual demographic.
the last third or so was a lot more enjoyable of a reading experience, but it wasn't a satisfying conclusion. instead it was really info dumpy, very unrealistic feeling.
if a good girl's guide to murder is like the first few seasons of pretty little liars, this is like the last few. unrealistic, confusing, and vaguely alarming.
but still surprising and weirdly fun.
bottom line: the real plot twist is how much i didn't expect about this book.
2.5
------------------ tbr review
a good reader's guide to adding too many books to her tbr
i don't think i've ever read a novella addition to a series and been like "yeah, that was necessary." but that doesn't stop me from trying.
this was noi don't think i've ever read a novella addition to a series and been like "yeah, that was necessary." but that doesn't stop me from trying.
this was no exception though.
it only provided insight into how pip decided to do her senior capstone project in the first book, which is possibly the least interesting thing it could possibly be about while still technically being in any way related to the actual mystery.
it also exclusively follows the plotline of a murder mystery dinner type board game, which are not famous for being interesting and filled with shock value.
it was a quick read and not terrible but that's the nicest i can be.
bottom line: if you're like, "i'd read holly jackson writing about literally anything," this is the novella for you....more
my only criterium for horror is that it scare me so terrifically i'm unable to sleep. is that so much to askmy only criterium for horror is that it scare me so terrifically i'm unable to sleep. is that so much to ask...more
this book is A LOT. these poor teens are going through it all: coming out, mourning, coming of age, rumoreturning to my first love (ya contemporaries)
this book is A LOT. these poor teens are going through it all: coming out, mourning, coming of age, rumors about hired hitmen, racism, homophobia, so much death.
they are also putting themselves and each other and their parents through even more. the fringe characters here are a little over the top, and so are a lot of the actions themselves, but i'm also adjusting this for the being-a-grownup-reading-about-teenagers tax. when you're 17, leaving your dying grandmother alone at home until the wee hours maybe is nbd.
even if right now it's like...oh my god. can you guys please be nice to each other and maybe send your mom a text?!
bottom line: reading YA as an adult is equal parts fun, nostalgic, and nightmarishly frightening.
magical dark academia horror about scary girls...it felt fated that i would like this book.
and i did. for a while.
in fact, i LOVED!!!! the first pagesmagical dark academia horror about scary girls...it felt fated that i would like this book.
and i did. for a while.
in fact, i LOVED!!!! the first pages of this — so atmospheric and intriguing, and unlike anything i'd read since ninth house, a book high i've been chasing for years.
unfortunately i do believe that 3 characters is too many to follow this closely and with unique points of view, that we embarked on our plot too quickly, and that there was so much gore and grossness and vomit as to reduce the impact of the ultimate climax.
similarly the ending was sweet, but these characters leaned too heavy into their stereotypes to be really memorable. that's what happens when we have too many to follow: we end up with The Rebel, The Witch, and The Nerd.
but contrary to all the complaining i just did...i'm going to follow this author.
bottom line: a lot of good! not enough. but a lot.
this just felt too unrealistic. every book ni'm not saying i condone art theft.
but i AM saying...it's pretty cool.
and i wish this book had more of it.
this just felt too unrealistic. every book needs something to ground it, and this was so absurd: indescribable mansions, teenage art thievery prodigies, john green-esque dialogue, friends at school who act more like obsessive fans, rare disorders diagnosed by nearby ballerinas, insta- and life-defining love.
it was too much, and all of it felt dramatic and heavy, and because there was nothing to make any of it feel lifelike it just felt annoying.
i don't even know what this book is about.
but it wasn't art theft.
bottom line: i think many, many people will like this book. i am sad to learn i am not among them.
i enjoyed a popular book. i think i'm well past due my invite at this point.
this is a fun book that is sometimes realcan i sit at the cool kids table?
i enjoyed a popular book. i think i'm well past due my invite at this point.
this is a fun book that is sometimes really repetitive and sometimes really boring and only has half of a satisfying ending, and yet it's still a quick read.
that is literally all i expect or desire from a popular YA mystery.
bottom line: i'm going to read every book in this series until i ruin it for myself <3...more
picking up a new morgan matson book on a warm day will forever be the most exciting moment of my life.
even better, this had a lot of my favorite morgapicking up a new morgan matson book on a warm day will forever be the most exciting moment of my life.
even better, this had a lot of my favorite morgan matson tropes: road trips, chaotic families, puns, the same set of nice familiar fictional towns (plus some nevada appearances), rom-com-like deals and rules, Personal Growth alongside the love story, a really long book that is so fun and fluffy it melts away.
it's also a little more mature, which is fun!
it was a little more dramatic and a little less friendship-y than my very favorites, but this was such a fun time.
bottom line: i need morgan matson to write 4 books a year.
the best way i can describe this book is it's as if foolish hearts, which is perhaps my all time favorite YAthis might have been made for me in a lab.
the best way i can describe this book is it's as if foolish hearts, which is perhaps my all time favorite YA contemporary, were transformed into a quest-based goofy middle grade fantasy, perhaps my favorite made up hyperspecific subgenre.
the actual Plot part is a lil weak but who cares. i'm in it for the banter and the crusty bread and cheese.
more authors should write the same narrow niche for ages and then just be like "f*ck it we ball" and write a totally different, equally specific book. it worked for taylor jenkins reid, it worked for emily henry, and i'm ready to declare it works for emma mills!
bottom line: huge win for the me community.
----------------- tbr review
trying YA fantasy for the first time in years just to feel something
(thanks to netgalley for the e-arc)
Merged review:
this might have been made for me in a lab.
the best way i can describe this book is it's as if foolish hearts, which is perhaps my all time favorite YA contemporary, were transformed into a quest-based goofy middle grade fantasy, perhaps my favorite made up hyperspecific subgenre.
the actual Plot part is a lil weak but who cares. i'm in it for the banter and the crusty bread and cheese.
more authors should write the same narrow niche for ages and then just be like "f*ck it we ball" and write a totally different, equally specific book. it worked for taylor jenkins reid, it worked for emily henry, and i'm ready to declare it works for emma mills!
bottom line: huge win for the me community.
----------------- tbr review
trying YA fantasy for the first time in years just to feel something
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