This lives up to its tagline as a cozy science fantasy novella: it's heartwarming, and I empathized with August and was rooting for her the whole timeThis lives up to its tagline as a cozy science fantasy novella: it's heartwarming, and I empathized with August and was rooting for her the whole time. It's a lovely story.
But—and this seems like an unpopular opinion—the writing needs work. The dialogue in places felt stiff and unnatural, the similar sentence structures and lengths made it less enjoyable to read, and there are lots of places where the same word is used multiple times in a single paragraph in a way that's distracting. We also had more showing than telling when it comes to August's feelings—I get it, it's a first-person narrative so that's bound to happen, but it happened so much that it took me out of the story.
I think this had so much potential. I loved the themes and the setting and the relationships between the characters. I'd definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to BookSirens and Dragon Bone Publishing!...more
This wasn’t for me. I picked it up from Amazon First Reads because it was short and nothing else that month looked interesting to me. I enjoyed the meThis wasn’t for me. I picked it up from Amazon First Reads because it was short and nothing else that month looked interesting to me. I enjoyed the memoir-ish anecdotes, but the actual self-help (which is the bulk of the book) was really surface level and I couldn’t get into it. ...more
From Lee Boudreaux, VP & Executive Editor, Doubleday: “Is The Husbands a rom-com about finding the perfect partner? Is it a quirky thought experiment From Lee Boudreaux, VP & Executive Editor, Doubleday: “Is The Husbands a rom-com about finding the perfect partner? Is it a quirky thought experiment about the paralysis caused by navigating endless options? Is it a cheeky critique of dating apps? Is it all of the above?”
I agree: it’s all of the above. And it was also fun and quick and super creative. Four rather than five stars because Lauren, our heroine, makes some completely bizarre, out-of-character, kind of horrific choices that really took me out of the story, but 95% of this was amazing.
I was excited to read this one: I love a wholesome, found family story. I thought the first half of Pippa’s story was delightful: she’s putting herselI was excited to read this one: I love a wholesome, found family story. I thought the first half of Pippa’s story was delightful: she’s putting herself out there and starting a puzzlers society. In parallel, we see Clayton who was raised by Pippa and the fellowship after he mysteriously appeared on their doorstep as a baby, unmoored by Pippa’s passing. We watch Clayton try to solve the mystery of his birth while we watch Pippa establish the fellowship.
But I think for a book to really pass the uplifting test—and this one is certainly advertising itself that way—the book needs to resolve in a really satisfying way. And this one…doesn’t. I was left pretty angry with some of the characters in the end, and while that’s totally fine with most books, that’s not what I’m looking for from a “gloriously uplifting novel”.
I kept getting echoes of David Mitchell—maybe with a sprinkle of Stephen King—in the best way. And I have to say upfront that the title is te4.5 stars
I kept getting echoes of David Mitchell—maybe with a sprinkle of Stephen King—in the best way. And I have to say upfront that the title is terrible and does this book a disservice.
This is the story of a small town, a handful of (primarily) young people and their dreams and relationships, and godlike entities who interfere with them. It is epic.
This is my first Kelly Link book, and I’m really impressed with the quality of the writing, the super distinct characters, and the unique premise.
It did feel longer than even its 640 pages should which is why I just couldn’t give it the full five stars.
This was so delightful: one of my favorite books read in 2023.
Sheshenshen is a wyrm, a shapeshifting monster who has terrorized the humans around herThis was so delightful: one of my favorite books read in 2023.
Sheshenshen is a wyrm, a shapeshifting monster who has terrorized the humans around her lair and who would have continued doing it if it weren’t for meeting Homily, a human who rescues Sheshenshen and thinks she’s a human named Siobhan.
This book is somehow violent yet heartwarming and joyful.
On one hand, this was a super quick read and I always wanted to turn the page. It’s 100% a thriller. There were good twists and the premise was truly On one hand, this was a super quick read and I always wanted to turn the page. It’s 100% a thriller. There were good twists and the premise was truly excellent: in a future where babies can be selected based on their genetic profile, celebrities have to guard their genetic material so it’s not stolen to create children. This is the interwoven story of a bio-security guard, a surrogate, and a young woman trying to understand her past. I was totally sold.
However, there were also some ridiculous plot holes that I had a hard time getting over. On top of that, the relationships between characters weren’t developed: we just jumped into them, being told that they were now in love or now best friends or what have you. Because of these factors, I found myself skimming just to find out what was going to happen next rather that being totally immersed in the story.
On the whole, while I wouldn’t *not* recommend this book, I do wish it were tightened up just a bit because this easily could’ve been great.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books!...more
Loved the premise (to test the feasibility of time travel, the government is bringing people who have died in the past to the present and the main chaLoved the premise (to test the feasibility of time travel, the government is bringing people who have died in the past to the present and the main character is a "bridge" who helps one of these "expats" adjust to modern life): this was fast and fun, and we do get attached to the characters and their quirks. I cared about what happened to them.
This reads like a fluffy thriller romance with twists and turns, but at times, the language is overwrought and trying so hard to be kind of high brow, that it didn't match. To be clear: I liked the writing itself and I liked the plot itself, but it felt like a mismatch, and every time I noticed the mismatch, I was pulled out of the story. There were also just a couple of unbelievable parts of the story that I had a hard time getting over.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press!...more
Post-apocalyptic climate fiction reminiscent of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Sil, our young protagonist, lives in The Morningside with her mothPost-apocalyptic climate fiction reminiscent of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Sil, our young protagonist, lives in The Morningside with her mother, the super. They are outsiders, and her mother will not talk about their past and will not let Sil discuss their history with anyone. This is a world ravaged by climate change, and there is hope that things are getting better.
In lots of ways, the book is bleak, but it’s also about the wonder of childhood, what parents do to protect their children, and human resilience. The book tackles big topics but through an engaging narrative.
I loved it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House!...more
I feel like Riordan's really hitting his stride here. I didn't much care for the first two Percy Jackson books, but I'm glad I persevered. The third, I feel like Riordan's really hitting his stride here. I didn't much care for the first two Percy Jackson books, but I'm glad I persevered. The third, The Titan's Curse, was miles better than the first two, and this one was just as enjoyable.
I'm looking forward to reading the fifth book. In fact, I think I'll start immediately....more