Tag Archives: Review

Review: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, narrated by Jennifer Lim

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Oh, my god, this was so good, y’all. Just, so so good. So, this is the story of two families whose lives collide with each other. Set in 1997, the Richardsons have four kids and live in a nice house in the lovely suburb of Cleveland, Shaker Heights. Mia Warren, a single mother and artist, moves to town with her daughter Pearl and rents an apartment from Mrs.Richardson. One of the Richardson children, Moody, rides his bike to the house because he is curious about the new tenants and that starts this story of friendship, growth, self-discovery, betrayal, and love. The main complication of the story comes when the Richardsons attend a party of a family friend celebrating the birthday of their child, whose adoption is about to be finalized. Lexie, the oldest Richardson child, mentions the baby to Mia, who has become the Richardson’s part-time housekeeper and cook. Mia realizes that this baby is the daughter of someone she met at a different part-time job. Bebe, the baby’s mother and a Chinese immigrant, surrendered the child to a fire station in the midst of post-partum depression and hopelessness. Since getting back on her feet, she’s been trying to find the little girl.

The resulting public revelation and custody trial sets fire to the community. Family members disagree, everything is heated, and Mrs. Richardson uncovers Mia’s involvement and takes it personally. She sets out to discover everything she can about Mia. The results are painful, beautiful, and deeply touching.

I was taken in by this novel. The characters felt real; you could see how their choices had led them to where they were and how they gloried and chafed against their results and consequences. I felt for all of them, even when what they did made me angry or deeply uncomfortable. The court case that ran through part of the story made clear how complex family situations can be. Issues of maternal support, child welfare, and race all interconnected in a way that made for no easy answers.

This book was so good and I can’t believe it took me so long to get to it. I know it is now also a TV show, so I might have to watch it and see how it compares. But the book on its own is enough. If you’ve not read it, get out there and give it a try. The audiobook was read by Jennifer Lim and she brought the characters to life. I can’t recommend this book enough.

Quick Review: House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

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Bryce, Hunt and crew final or at least I think final adventure as they work together to rid themselves of the Asteri. On a whole this was an enjoyable series. Nothing ground breaking but fun. It started a bit slow and it could have had a few more spicy scenes but other than that it was a satisfying way to end. I did appreciate the little crossover with Maas’ ACOTAR series. I’m not sure if it was really that necessary that so much of the first act walking cave for Bryce to get some exposition As much as I like Nesta and Azriel but it could have been condense. I also could have done without Ithan’s story line. Another storyline that could have been condensed. Anyhoo. I few minor complaints in otherwise a good series. Entertaining and fun.

Quick Review: The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake

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I haven’t been reading as much so it’s a good thing Kate has picked up the slack. I think I mentioned this before during the pandemic but it’s still true. I do most of my reading on my commute. I read at home, yes but not every night. I’ve been working more and more from home and not going into the office as often so I haven’t been commuting So, yeah, it took me a while to read this one. Now that I have finally finished it I don’t know. I’m not sure how I feel about this whole series. The first book was so engrossing and the second was a pretty good sequel but I had trouble with this one. It could have to do with me not reading it consistently as I’m used to. It could be that I realized that most of the characters I kinda stopped caring about or is that I’m not sure what the conclusion of this book ended up being. So, yeah I don’t really have much to say about this book beyond, I finally was able to finish i. Which leaves me kind of sad for a series that I really did like at the beginning.

Review: Starter Villain by John Scalzi

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This book was so funny. I listened to the audible ebook narrated by Wil Wheaton and it’s just perfection. Charlie has had a string of bad luck. He was laid off from his journalist job and now working as a substitute teacher. He’s divorced and his father just recently died. He is living in his families home that his siblings want to sell. Things are not great. Then his estranged Uncle died and he’s thrown in the world of villains. He founds out that his Uncle may have had a legit business of owner parking lots but his real business was being a villain and messing up the plans of other villains. Charlie is now a head of his Uncle’s business and with cat spies and talking dolphins. He’s a bit over his head. Even more so when a group of other villains want him to join their group or he’ll lose everything.

This is book is ridiculous in all the best ways. His cats Hera and Persephone are spies that were sent to watch him and can communicate with specialize keyboards. The dolphins that guard his Uncle’s volcano island lair want to unionize. Charlie is funny and grounded. He takes everything with an awe and WTF reaction that is appropriate in situations like this. While everyone underestimates him, he outwits all of them with his knowledge and journalistic experience to dismantle his rivals in one fell swoop. To say this book was enjoyable that I was so sad when it was over and there isn’t a sequel. I forgot what it’s like to read a standalone book. Go read the book or listen to the Audible. You will not be disappointed.

Review: Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

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I’ll admit I was curious of what Cassandra Clare could do outside her Shadowhunter series. Sword Catcher is a good book. It actually is better than her last couple of Shadowhunter books. I think it was good for her to explore a different kind of world. This is a high fantasy that is set in the kingdom of Castellane and is narrated by Kel, the Sword Catcher or the body to the Prince and Lin, a physician outcast. An outcast because not only she a woman in a man’s field but she’s an Ashkar, who can’t live in the city but only in the Sault. Kel was an orphan who looks enough like the Prince that with a talisman he can look just like the Prince and stand for him if needs to. Kel was raised in the Palace, among the courtiers and wealthy but will never be one himself. Both Kel and Lin are outsiders to this world but they collide when he is stabbed and left for dead. Now they are caught up in the political intrigue that neither knows what to do with it. 

Now, it wasn’t the best book I’ve read but it was definitely entertaining. I really liked both of Kel and Lin’s voices as they navigated a world that needs them but doesn’t necessarily want them. This was a good set up novel. I am not sure how many books are in the series but it was a good introduction to the world. People and the upcoming trouble to come. It still leaves a lot to explore, like what is the madness the king suffers from? Is Lin really the returned Goddess to bring magic back to world? All and all a good start.

Quick Review: The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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I thought at the end of The Final Gambit that this series wrapped up nicely. I didn’t know what else needed to be said. True, Avery’s journey was wrapped up nicely. She made it a year, inherited the Hawthorne fortune and figured out what she was going to do with that vast wealth. However, Grayson and Jameson’s stories has some work to do. True their relationship with each other have improved. They both still have some major daddy and granddaddy issues to work out. Both of them get intertwined with their father’s families. Jameson’s father shows up out of the blue and wants him to infiltrate a secret club to play a game to reclaim his ancestor’s home. Grayson, who’s father kidnapped Avery and died in the last book has been keeping tabs on his half sisters. He jumps into action when his sister Gigi gets arrested. At first, I wasn’t really all that interested in Grayson and Jameson’s troubles and wondered why that it was necessary but as it went along I started to go with it. Grayson’s sisters Gigi and Savannah are a welcome addition to the story and it’s good to see Grayson have a family that he always wanted whether he admits it or not. Jameson, to be honest, my least favorite of the Hawthorne’s and was a bit bummed that he ended up in Avery but there were moments, I really felt for him. The emotional abuse inflicted on all his brothers by their grandfather is tragic. I do think that Jameson ended in a better place at the end then Grayson did but guess what there is going to be more books. The journey of the Hawthorne brothers continue as Avery is creating a new game for anyone can play and change their fortunes. I do hope that Xander plays more of role in the next book.

Beth Favorite’s Books of 2023!

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It’s that time of the year! Where we look back at all of the books we read this year and pick our favorites. These are my favorite books of 2023. They are in no particular order but in order that I read them.

  1. The Dangerous Damsels series by India Holton – The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, The League of Gentlewoman Witches and The Secret Service of Tea and Treason were such a fun trilogy of books I loved all the prim and proper pirates and witches and their flying houses. It has the perfect mix of romance, hijinks and adventure.
  2. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty – Keeping with the pirate theme. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is such a fun story of piracy, adventure and magic. Unlike most books where the protagonist is young and just starting out, Amina is in her 40’s and well established. She has to come out of retirement for this adventure and not only have battle the present but the past. So much fun.
  3. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros – This was the book of the year. I don’t remember the last time that people were excited about the release of a book. The sequel, Iron Flame got the full Midnight release party treatment. Violet has a chronic illness that makes her a poor candidate to be a dragon rider but she’s forced to join by her mom. In a mixture of Hunger Games and Harry Potter. Violet will become a rider if only she can survive, which in this school is not a given. Did I mention there are dragons?
  4. Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade – Spoiler Alert and it’s sequel All the Feels are delightful. This is such a nerd romance. It’s mixture of romance, fandoms and fan fics is irresistible. Who doesn’t dream of meeting a handsome actor and falling in love? Marcus and April are the perfect couple. It’s also so great to have a plus size romantic lead. To often we are forgotten about so it’s great to finally get the guy at the end.
  5. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood – This was another TikTok find. I am a sucker for enemies to lover trope and I guess also the relationship of convenience trope. It was was such a fun read and I was invested from the beginning. I can’t wait to read more from Ali Hazelwood.

Those were mine. I want to hear what books you loved this year! Maybe they will be mine in 2024!

Quick Review: Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

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Do not get me wrong. I liked this book but it was a little be a let down from the Fourth Wing. It just didn’t have to same punch as the first book in the series. I couldn’t put the Fourth Wing down but Iron Flame I felt at times dragged on. I felt like it spent too much time at Basigiath and then also too much at Riorson House training. They spent so much time preparing for the battles that by the time we get the battles they are over too soon. That being said. I still am very much enjoying the dynamic between Violet, Tairn and Andarna. Andarna is really the superstar of this book. Who doesn’t love a sassy teenage dragon?! I kinda felt that Violet and Xaden’s relationship took a couple of steps back. What I loved about their relationship in the first book is how much faith and support Xaden gave Violet. Xaden in the first half book, spent hovering and being overprotective. They eventually worked it out but the obsessiveness they both have for each other is borderline creepy. My struggles with this book withstanding, it still is an excellent series and I’m very much invested in it and will be waiting for the next book to come out.

Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

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I loved the Hunger Games series but I didn’t rush to read the prequel because I could have cared less about Snow. Before it came out, there were all these rumors about which Hunger Games it would be about and what a disappointment when it turned out to be Snow. There was a time, not so long ago, there was this moment of trying to humanize villains and I didn’t really care to find out what terrible things happen to Snow to turn him evil. An for most of the book, that’s kind of what it was. We met teenage Snow who has been picked to be a Mentor in the 10th Hunger Games. The Capital is still recovering from the war and the Hunger Games hasn’t really caught on with the people. This year, having students be mentor is just one way, they are trying to get people more engaged and make it into what we say 65 years later with Katniss. The Snow family were once a powerful family but lost all of their money when District 13 was destroyed. They only have their name but that might not be enough anymore. His one chance to change their fortunes is to mentor his tribute to win. He is partnered with Lucy Gray Baird from District 12. Lucy Gray is a charismatic singer and makes quite an entrance and soon the people of the Capital are rooting for her and Snow is in love. More appropriately obsessed. Long story short, he cheats to help her win and for punishment he’s forced to join the Peacekeepers and sent to the District 12 to be with Lucy Gray. Seeing how things are in the districts should have open his eyes to the injustice but instead it only makes him more Capital. I guess that is the point of the book. It’s not to humanize him but to explain why and how the Hunger Games became to be and how they came more vicious over time. Snow was truly traumatized by the war but instead of working on his own trauma but puts it onto others. LIke Lucy Gray. He doesn’t truly love her. He is jealous anytime someone else talks to her or about her. He becomes angry at the thought of past lovers. He wants to control her like he ends up wanted to control all of Panem. He is a prime example of the worst of Humanity. He comes off looking normal and reasonable but it only covers up their true nature. This wasn’t as compelling as the original series but wasn’t as disappointing as I originally thought it would be.

Review: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

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I am glad that I didn’t know that this started out as a Reylo fanfic because I think that would have ruined it for me. And that would have been a shame because I really enjoyed this book. It was very cute. I wasn’t sure about the whole Professor/PHD student romance at first because that could be fraught with red flags but I thought it was handled well.

Olive is a Phd student who out of nowhere kisses Professor Adam Carlsen to convince her best friend Anh that she is over her ex. She plans a fake relationship with Adam in hopes that Anh will feel okay dating her ex. Adam goes along with it because well Stanford is withholding some of his financing because they believe he’s about to leave. So they make plans to date for a period of time but of course they fall in love. In between their witty banter and back and fourth’s Olive is also looking for funding. Her mentor is retiring and is already kinda checked out. So she is seeking new labs to keep working on her research. Of course this comes with a whole bunch of complications, mostly stemming from she is a woman in the STEM field.

It’s pretty clear from the get go that Olive and Adam have chemistry. That it’s not just a work proposition that is keeping them together. They help each other help and help each other grow. I really liked reading them as a couple. If I had one qualm about was how it ended. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that the slimy guy gets it but it also felt rushed to me. Other than that I found it to be delightful and I look forward to reading more Ali’s books.