"Refreshingly honest", says one of the mini blurbs on the back cover. I thought to myself - I get it, but couldn't most books in this genre be describ"Refreshingly honest", says one of the mini blurbs on the back cover. I thought to myself - I get it, but couldn't most books in this genre be described that way? Well, after reading it I think this was a perfect description after all.
The narrative forces you to just reckon with the way disability (and the way people treat it) has put the main character almost outside of society. It's blunt, to the point, brutal but also eloquent in a way. Short and powerful....more
What I wanted to say about this installment was already perfectly said in some other reviews, so I'm finding it hard to put my thoughts into differentWhat I wanted to say about this installment was already perfectly said in some other reviews, so I'm finding it hard to put my thoughts into different words!
Look, the concept, the themes and the characters are all still amazing and refreshing and fascinating. But this time the pacing suffers even more... I know this was written serially and then just gathered up into a book, it shows, but even so... there is such reluctance to involve any real danger, consequences or stakes for the beloved characters. Every conflict gets resolved immediately, everyone just accepts what they hear and becomes dorleypilled in a span of one conversation ...more
This wild forcefemming-as-rehabilitation concept led to SO many incredibly fascinating moral dilemmas and discussions, I thought Omg this was amazing.
This wild forcefemming-as-rehabilitation concept led to SO many incredibly fascinating moral dilemmas and discussions, I thought it was explored so well. The book was also compulsively readable and written well, for the entire time I had the impression that the language used and the development of themes and characters was very in-touch, realistic and true to life.
Pacing was my only problem and I thought it could've been edited better, I didn't feel the need to read a very similar doing-makeup-and-going-out-with-friends scene 15 times, but apart from that minor issue, wow this book was FRESH. ...more
I very much enjoyed this reading experience, the book was engaging as hell! It just read a bit like a fanfiction, very telling not showing, weird p3.5
I very much enjoyed this reading experience, the book was engaging as hell! It just read a bit like a fanfiction, very telling not showing, weird pacing at the start, very special MC, occasionally bad grammar or wrong word usage, in need of editing etc.
However this didn't detract too much from my enjoyment. Even when the book was predictable, I found myself wanting to pick it back up and find out what happens next. Also very nice to see lesbians treated as normal in a historical fantasy setting :)...more
I'm of two minds about this book! I thought it was well written and the characters were solid, with depth, their traumas and past issues explored w3.5
I'm of two minds about this book! I thought it was well written and the characters were solid, with depth, their traumas and past issues explored well.... but I just REALLY didn't want them to be together. Their arguments, the will they won't they aspect just made me angry every time haha, I thought they were horrible for each other. I think part of it is the fact that (and I see this issue inscreasingly often in romance), true connection and, well, the romance is replaced solely with sexual chemistry and it just fails to make me believe that the relationship is so special and causing them this much emotional turmoil.
I think I'd love this much more if it the author just did away with the romance plot (I know, a big ask since this is a romance book! lol), because I actually really enjoyed the aspects of screenwriting, adapting a book into a show, Helen's complicated relationship with her parents, overcoming grief etc. ...more
A thoughtful exploration of a complicated sibling dynamic, what it means to become and adult while feeling the weight of the world on you,Made me cry.
A thoughtful exploration of a complicated sibling dynamic, what it means to become and adult while feeling the weight of the world on you, and looking back at childhood. Written in a quite though-provoking form....more
My first reaction to this book did not fill me with much optimism, the first chapter alone contained such an eye-roll worthy amI'm feeling generous...
My first reaction to this book did not fill me with much optimism, the first chapter alone contained such an eye-roll worthy amount of clunky introductions, performative inclusion and - there's no other word for it - cringe video game references, I was sure I was in for a disaster... But you know what, I kept reading and the book got better. I ended up feeling quite invested in this story and enjoying aspects of it.
I think some problems stem from a sort of indecisiveness in narrative choices. Sometimes the author writes as if the audience knows absolutely nothing about video games and couldn't possibly infer stuff from context (Do we need it explained that Cat "having no Gs" is gamer speak for being broke, lol), and sometimes the description become much more comfortable and true to life. I went back and forth between feeling really condescended to as a casual gamer myself, and appreciating the discussions surrounding games that this book introduced. It was a bit reference heavy, down to details like Cat writing dialogue for a game that's totally-not-Hades and later bying and playing a dating sim that's totally-not-Dream-Daddy. Some topics like diversity in gaming etc I feel were treated on quite a surface level or stating the obvious (especially considering the target audience here), but occassionally went somewhere deeper, which I liked and wanted more of.
3 stars is a rather decent rating in my books and I'm giving it here because there were more things that worked for me in the end or surprised me positively. I really did become invested in the plot of the two MCs writing romance options for their game and saving it from the publisher's intentions, it had decent stakes and it was believable. The romance itself - I liked that it was slow and happened more towards the end, therefore AVOIDING THE THIRD ACT BREAKUP. This is so rare, I have to applaud this decision! The way Cat and Andi's relationship developed was actually rather satisfying and felt natural. More focused on them as people instead of fulfilling the genre's cliches. The book also didn't fall into misrepresenting lesbians or being stereotypical which I usually have to endure all the time while reading sapphic romance so this is a breath of fresh air.
All in all, a pleasant surprise. Took some getting over the millenial-type references, but I'll def give this author a chance in the future....more
The topics and the way in which they were explored were fascinating, making the book impossible to put down. Such a strong narI absolutely loved this!
The topics and the way in which they were explored were fascinating, making the book impossible to put down. Such a strong narrative voice, which I felt struck a perfect balance between humorous, lighthearted and doing justice to the serious, heavy themes....more
Very useful for my assignment! A comprehensive overview of attachment theory and how it relates to bereavement, written iNo rating - read for college.
Very useful for my assignment! A comprehensive overview of attachment theory and how it relates to bereavement, written in a way I found accessible....more
Devastatingly bad, in a way that makes you say "Oh honey, no..."
It's full of stereotypes, chaos, millenial cringe, inaccuracies and lack of depth, butDevastatingly bad, in a way that makes you say "Oh honey, no..."
It's full of stereotypes, chaos, millenial cringe, inaccuracies and lack of depth, but somehow the thing that made me just fully give up, the final nail in the coffin if you will, was the fact that the author thinks that "lo siento" means "you're welcome" in Spanish, and repeated it as such with confidence at least three times....more
Did I actually like Bunny?! I'm starting to doubt it, because I couldn't get through this one. I could chalk it up to "Rouge" simply being a miss for Did I actually like Bunny?! I'm starting to doubt it, because I couldn't get through this one. I could chalk it up to "Rouge" simply being a miss for me but I'm not so sure anymore.
The things I praised in Awad's previous book became obnoxious, irritaing and rage inducing here. They did, didn't they. Red jellyfish. Incorrect French. I must be dreaming, must I not? I'm so confused. Red shoes. I must now apply some snail serum. Retinol. Sunscreen. Moisturizer with a fancy name. I'm so witty, inventing those snarky cosmetic names and 90-step skin care routines. Right? Am I not? But no, no, don't worry. This is where my analysis of beauty industry will end, isn't it? I will just name the products and a ridiculous amount of steps. Little bottles lining the shelves in the bedroom. Won't I? Nothing else. Oh, those red jellyfish...
I kid you not, this is how reading this book feels like. What is the reason behind those stylistic choices?! And repetition without delving deeper into the themes? I had to dnf this because it became impossible to get through. I'm not even sure if I'm gonna be reading Awad's next works because she seems to be doubling down on the aspects that I don't like and not retaining the ones I loved.
Merged review:
Did I actually like Bunny?! I'm starting to doubt it, because I couldn't get through this one. I could chalk it up to "Rouge" simply being a miss for me but I'm not so sure anymore.
The things I praised in Awad's previous book became obnoxious, irritaing and rage inducing here. They did, didn't they. Red jellyfish. Incorrect French. I must be dreaming, must I not? I'm so confused. Red shoes. I must now apply some snail serum. Retinol. Sunscreen. Moisturizer with a fancy name. I'm so witty, inventing those snarky cosmetic names and 90-step skin care routines. Right? Am I not? But no, no, don't worry. This is where my analysis of beauty industry will end, isn't it? I will just name the products and a ridiculous amount of steps. Little bottles lining the shelves in the bedroom. Won't I? Nothing else. Oh, those red jellyfish...
I kid you not, this is how reading this book feels like. What is the reason behind those stylistic choices?! And repetition without delving deeper into the themes? I had to dnf this because it became impossible to get through. I'm not even sure if I'm gonna be reading Awad's next works because she seems to be doubling down on the aspects that I don't like and not retaining the ones I loved.
Merged review:
Did I actually like Bunny?! I'm starting to doubt it, because I couldn't get through this one. I could chalk it up to "Rouge" simply being a miss for me but I'm not so sure anymore.
The things I praised in Awad's previous book became obnoxious, irritaing and rage inducing here. They did, didn't they. Red jellyfish. Incorrect French. I must be dreaming, must I not? I'm so confused. Red shoes. I must now apply some snail serum. Retinol. Sunscreen. Moisturizer with a fancy name. I'm so witty, inventing those snarky cosmetic names and 90-step skin care routines. Right? Am I not? But no, no, don't worry. This is where my analysis of beauty industry will end, isn't it? I will just name the products and a ridiculous amount of steps. Little bottles lining the shelves in the bedroom. Won't I? Nothing else. Oh, those red jellyfish...
I kid you not, this is how reading this book feels like. What is the reason behind those stylistic choices?! And repetition without delving deeper into the themes? I had to dnf this because it became impossible to get through. I'm not even sure if I'm gonna be reading Awad's next works because she seems to be doubling down on the aspects that I don't like and not retaining the ones I loved....more
Some controversial ideas here that I still do not agree with it, but the book is not without value, there's worthRead for college, therefore no rating
Some controversial ideas here that I still do not agree with it, but the book is not without value, there's worthwhile aspects to this theory. I'd say it can be useful for specific issues but is limited when applied broadly....more
I liked this, I loved the focus on working class characters and the unapologetic way of portraying reality, struggles, camraderie and desires to breakI liked this, I loved the focus on working class characters and the unapologetic way of portraying reality, struggles, camraderie and desires to break the system... but this made one of the main plot points very jarring in comparison.
I think no one was surprised by that white girl's betrayal (it's not a spoiler since it's in the blurb). I had such a hard time believing that anyone would even entertain her for a minute, much less... trust her? I couldn't see why the main character was drawn to her. The description says that she "said all the right things and knew theory" but on page she's only demonstrated being awkward and performative. Just whyyy :(
I yearned for a proper confrontation that just didn't come at the end!...more
This second book I've now read by An Yu confirms that I love her writing style and what she chooses to focus on. Similarly to "Ghost Music", here we hThis second book I've now read by An Yu confirms that I love her writing style and what she chooses to focus on. Similarly to "Ghost Music", here we have a blend of slice of life (with a glimpse at strained relationships and new encounters) and magical realism, done in a really competent, engaging and seamless way. The imagery of the mysterious fish-man figure and the world of water were unique and memorable, slightly unsettling in the right way....more
Kuang knows how to craft a story and build suspense, that's for sure. I just still wish she trusted her readers more. I did feel talked down to many tKuang knows how to craft a story and build suspense, that's for sure. I just still wish she trusted her readers more. I did feel talked down to many times; I don't need to have it spelled out to me that the main character was lying after clearly telling a lie, I don't need it explained what a sensitivity reader is like I'm 5 years old etc. This does a disservice to the book.
I think what makes me a little frustrated is how much unused potential this has. I'm interested in how Kuang evolves as a writer though.
I'll end this with a recommendation; If you enjoyed Yellowface (or wanted more from it!), please check out "Disorientation" by Elaine Hsieh Chou....more
I read this just after finishing Iris Kelly Doesn't Date, which I hated, and in comparison, Cleat Cute felt like suchI'm of two minds about this book.
I read this just after finishing Iris Kelly Doesn't Date, which I hated, and in comparison, Cleat Cute felt like such a breath of fresh air. This is more accurate to how queer people talk and behave. I was relieved. On the other hand, that's kind of a low bar... Nevertheless, I will start with the good stuff.
Wilnser's writing is improving and I'm happy to see it. It's still a bit simple and repetitive on a sentence level, but it's leaps ahead their previous book, Mistakes Were Made. What I think they do really well is getting into the head of a character - Phoebe and Grace felt very distinct and I could see with ease how they followed different thought processes which led to them interpreting the same situations in varied ways. It was nicely done. Background characters also felt more like real people, actual friends, than in other, uhm, certain books. I think a big part of that was this setting was so grounded and realistic for queer women!
But the book was not without its cringe. It kind of feels like no one can do anything actually wrong... Every argument is based on a misunderstanding, and not people making mistakes and fucking up. The main characters always have the purest intentions and the way in which they resolve problems is too scripted. Also, listen... I understand tackling mental health issues but diagnosing ADHD through TikTok? Be so for real right now. It also hit me with a line "How can I have ADHD if I can focus on eating your pussy". Truly unforgettable. Also also I wished there was more romantic tension between Phoebe and Grace and not exclusively sexual for the most part, although I will admit the sex scenes are written well (these are the parts of the book where writing changes from plain to very invested and occasionally... poetic?).
I would also take an issue with the blurb, which is misleading, I though it would be like what if Jamie and Roy from Ted Lasso had a romance, but P&G weren't even rivals. And what made Jamie entertaining was his redemption from being an asshole, meanwhile Phoebe arrives at the scene being adorable from the get-go (see this is this point about characters not being able to do anything wrong). So it's a bit of false advertising, but I enjoyed the book for what it was....more