Rough book. But that's to be expected when talking about suicide. I think it was handled exceptionaThanks to Netgalley and Harper Select for eARC.
Rough book. But that's to be expected when talking about suicide. I think it was handled exceptionally well; the love and hurt are quite clear, to me. Nothing heinous or malicious, just raw honesty and heartbreak. It just....really effing sucks. What happened.
As for the writing style, I prefer memoirs that feel personal, like they're telling the story in person or you're reading their journal, but this had that biography feel to it; like, here's all the facts of this person's life from birth to present! It's not that Allison writes poorly, just that the tone is less my jam versus someone like Augusten Burroughs. Allison covers her early life up into the present in mostly linear fashion and doesn't hold back on any topic, which I appreciate. I highlighted numerous passages; I think this could be helpful to others, be it reevaluating potential signs or seeing in print you're not alone, garnering ideas on how to heal and deal, prompting difficult conversations.
People looking for gore and gossip should look elsewhere.
Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's | Wednesday Books for eARC! Extra thanks for extending an invitation through e-mail, since I've previously revieweThanks to Netgalley and St Martin's | Wednesday Books for eARC! Extra thanks for extending an invitation through e-mail, since I've previously reviewed HE Edgmon.
4ish � { 3 with regards to world-building, lore, etc // 4.5 for writing style, characters, engagement, etc.
“Did you think you were reading a story about good but deeply damaged people surviving against all odds and finding hope for the future in each other? Because there are plenty of books telling that story, but this isn’t one of them. This is a book about haunted houses, except the houses are bodies and the hauntings are the lies children tell and are told. This is a book about how dangerous it can be to dream when you grow up sleeping with something under your bed. This is not a book about an exorcism, because these houses cannot be saved by anything short of burning to the ground.�
POV : present and past tense, current day and flashbacks. Third person through Bird, Hugo, Cal, Eamon, Felix, Cassandra. Worth noting is that Felix's bits have a first POV from some unknown narrator (other reviewers think this is the author FWIW). This book is VERY adult, mature, descriptive, flowery (and I am using that in a positive manner, it's just the word that fits for me, I like elaborate sentences and descriptions). Sometimes, though, the cryptic writing is confusing, even after a few re-reads or coming back to it at a later time. However, if you go back and start reading from the beginning after completing the novel, more things certainly make better sense.
We Can Never Leave has 30 numbered chapters coupled with 25 Befores, Afters, etc taking place in a plethora of settings: Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, road trip to Washington, California, Boise National Forest, Catskills, Oregon, and around October for the present day parts. It has an open ending, which I like and don't like, because of all of the unanswered questions and the lacking in lore. I wanted more Caravan lore, their origins, how the magic system worked. And I didn't really believe or feel it when Felix says the main cast are his friends since none of them seem to be friendish until the end of the book.
Something that resonated so hard, that I was also unaware of, was the following --
“Reader, did you know it’s a fairly common trauma response to sit in a car and stare out the window and imagine someone running next to you? Kids trapped in cars with their parents for long stretches of time, feeling uncomfortable or even unsafe, nowhere to hide and nothing to distract them, are prone to inventing these unknown protectors. Felix has spent an enormous chunk of his life doing exactly that. It wouldn’t surprise him if that was what Cal was doing now, dissociating herself some guardian angel that might protect her from the tension in the RV.�
I did that. What ran beside my rides were two unicorns, one male and one female, sometimes together, sometimes one over the other. And I was diagnosed with PTSD recently, so it makes sense.
� The 'they' pronouns were sometimes difficult to follow for my cis-gendered forty year-old brain. Doesn't mean the book is impossible to read, nor am I rallying to stop including them, I'm simply throwing it out there in case others relate.
� And I will never not be annoyed about naïve being spelled incorrectly, especially since the author did cliché with the accent. O_o...more
Okay, this was delightful. Informative and humorous, with excellent visuals, as a non-Catholic I learThanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS for eARC!
Okay, this was delightful. Informative and humorous, with excellent visuals, as a non-Catholic I learned, I laughed, I loved. Definitely adding this to my pre-orders list, because it's just that much fun. Gave me Michael Largo vibes, and he's one of my favorites so I welcomed it. Kate's writing has a natural, easy flow to it, and the book is quite approachable for any reader. Extensive, diligent research went into this, and it's shown through the work (and list of resources at the back in the bibliography.) A glossary is included, very helpful. You can also make your own holy card and certificate of saintification!
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Quick and fairly easy read, and I think I saw less than three typos?
* NOTE: Do not read the eARC on Kindle, the format is effed. But the NetGal app works flawlessly. ...more
Thanks to NETGALLEY and Tundra Book Group for eARC
Part of A Little Ghost Quilt Book
This booooook has some of the coziest art. I would frame prThanks to NETGALLEY and Tundra Book Group for eARC
Part of A Little Ghost Quilt Book
This booooook has some of the coziest art. I would frame practically every page, they are just cute as buttons. Same goes for the story itself, which, to me, was a story of resilience, determination, friendship, togetherness, and creativity. There's inclusion in the art, too, with a nice little nod to Hanukkah/Chanukah. There are some rhymes, some silly lines, and it's neat to spot the quilt ghost like Where's Waldo/Wally, only he is easier to spot. It gave me Haunted Mansion and Sir Alfred Hitchcock ghost stories vibes.
I haven't read any other boooook in this spooktacular series, yet, but I would love to own them all....more
Thanks to NETGALLEY and Simon & Schuster for eARC (invited to review because of my input for Tendler's ‘Men Have Called Her Crazy�)
4.5 �
This not-Thanks to NETGALLEY and Simon & Schuster for eARC (invited to review because of my input for Tendler's ‘Men Have Called Her Crazy�)
4.5 �
This not-a-memoir memoir has sharp wit; Lola comes across as self-aware with even some satirical narcissism. She's clever in never naming things, like how she hinted and alluded to Amazon. It is very much nonlinear, with some blurbs being only a paragraph long, whilst others are longer. Sometimes the nonlinear leaps are a bit jarring, but Lola does a good job of letting you know what the time period is. A fairly quick read, which makes sense since she is on the younger side. I enjoyed this enough to look forward to more writings from Kirke, if there will be any! And I'm interested enough to read whatever her sibling(s) are allegedly releasing as well. ...more
Plot: 3 (Concept is a 5, hence my ARC request) Characters: 4 Writing Style: 3.5 Cover: 5 (I fucky lovThanks to NETGALLEY and Hyperion Avenue for eARC
Plot: 3 (Concept is a 5, hence my ARC request) Characters: 4 Writing Style: 3.5 Cover: 5 (I fucky love it) Enjoyment: At first, 5, but then it lost steam and went to a 3ish. At one point, I wanted to read King's Finders Keepers more, despite the deadline. Sadge.
& that's a low 3, mind.
This sci-fi romance action book is told through third person POV, mainly from our MC, Jenni, though sometimes from the children or other side characters, coupled with excerpts from books within (T)he Rising Tide world. Quick-paced, humorous, cozy setting (until it's not, of course), non-linear timeline. The dialogue, though, it's awkward more often than not, even if it works in certain situations. It honestly came down to. There being. Too many. Short sentences. Distracting. Coupled with the overabundance of action words -- "SQUELCH SQUELCH SQUELCH" & "bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang", etc it dissolved into a push to finish, which was a bummer, considering how hard it started off. I loved the book at first. And then that underwhelming battle conclusion... sigh. IDK what happened, sorry.
Age Group: 12 and up, 7th grade and up. Cover: 4 POV: Third person via Lotte (16), Nora (16), Theo (?), AuguThanks to Netgalley and Viking for eARC!
Age Group: 12 and up, 7th grade and up. Cover: 4 POV: Third person via Lotte (16), Nora (16), Theo (?), August (17) � told in 9 parts, 83 chapters + epilogue; non-linear, includes a folk/fairy-tale woven throughout. Includes a mini family tree (wish it were full, the lore is fascinating).
Setting: Fictional cities. Future melded with past type world; there are magic, charms, mind-reading, scrying, immortal beings, enchanted items, but also newspapers, servants, knights, typewriters, trolls, etc. Themes of classism and racism, too. Especially classism. World building is decent, I enjoyed it.
I mostly liked the writing style, it's just that there were enough typos to be distracting. It's quite jarring to have to stop and report on Kindle as frequently as I did. Sometimes the writing got lazy with repeated words (jerked, roared vs other verbs, etc) or sentences. And far too many sentences starting with "and", or, "and then". That also became distracting. Kudos for a suuuuper subtle romance, and I didn't see twists coming. Major cliffhanger ending that, if the story hooked you, makes you chomping at the bit for the next book to release. I found enough enjoyment in the story to see what comes next.
4 stars overall, but 2 stars for the amount of typos. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for eARC; invited to review via e-mail.
DNF at Chapter Nine // 24%
� POV: First, througThanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for eARC; invited to review via e-mail.
DNF at Chapter Nine // 24%
� POV: First, through our main character, Terra. � Setting: North Heights, senior year
Not too sure about writing style, kind of too...boring. Which is a shame, and frankly surprising, because the concept has so much promise. Not I just cannot gel with it. Great cover art, though.
EDIT: After reading through other eARC reviews, I agree that the predetermined age group may enjoy this, but it was too "cheesy" for 40 year-old me....more
This was one fast read (would have been two days vs four), in that, I couldn't put it down due to a properThanks to NETGALLEY and VIKING for eARC.
This was one fast read (would have been two days vs four), in that, I couldn't put it down due to a proper dosage suspense and needing to know wth was going on. Marked for ages 14+ // grade 9 and up, Deadsteam is told from the POV of 16 year-old, Teresa, ala first and third person; story is also cleverly, appropriately moved along through online comments, chats, texts, etc, using mediums the characters are. The book has 22 chapters and an epilogue, is set throughout a few places in the world, though mostly in the West Virginia and adjacent area around February of current day.
I have to say that Romasco-Moore utterly nails the internet and streamer lingo (catJAM), and because it's a book set around streaming, the formatting is just so much fun (ex: the reader is shown a text message as it would literally appear). Engaging from the get-go, creepy, humorous, and just an all around enjoyable read that I think is worth re-visiting during Spoopy Season.
� Internet points, upvotes, likes, hearts, etc for using the correct spelling of naïve, I could cry. � Insert .gif of Tina Belcher groaning as a reaction to not showering for four days then making out...IDK about that...
Thanks to NETGALLEY and Watkins Publishing for eARC
"Contemporary legends are defined as a fictional story about something that supposedly really h
Thanks to NETGALLEY and Watkins Publishing for eARC
"Contemporary legends are defined as a fictional story about something that supposedly really happened , usually to a friend of a friend (FOAF), in a setting that is familiar and usually in close proximity to the teller and listener." - Gail De Vos
NOTE: Not compatible with Kindle, I recommend reading this in the NG app.
This book has 10 chapters and a plethora of urban legends, which I appreciated and soaked up. Just, it has a very strange, weird flow, and honestly, it's not completely what I was expecting. Still worth reading? Absolutely, though possibly a library rent for some, a must buy for others. Since this was an eARC, mine had a lot of typos, and just ended without the usual (author's note, index, etc), so I don't know what the end of the book will look like. And if any images are included in the final product, and I really, really hope there are, mine was without. :c
3.5 � Learned some things, was reminded of others....more
Though this account is delivered with a deep dedication to accuracy and faithfulness, the book, at i
Thanks to NETGALLEY and Mariner Books for eARC
Though this account is delivered with a deep dedication to accuracy and faithfulness, the book, at its heart, is my interpretation of the information as I uncovered it, and not intended to be a perfect representation of events as they occurred. The narrative follows my investigation of the 1983 murder of my great-grandfather, Aubrey LaHaye� a first-person narrative occasionally interspersed with scenes drawn from a past I was not present for. - Jordan LaHaye Fontenot
This emotional, raw, haunting, sad, triumphant, resilient, open memoir slash true-crime novel slash...IDK, geographical recount book? is so well done. I couldn't put it down, I just instantly fell in love with Jordan's writing style. So much so that I Googled her to start following her on things like LinkedIn, and bookmarked other things she wrote. I am crossing all appendages that we'll get to see more from her, be graced with more books (please?). As insanely detailed as she could do. I don't know if the final product will provide images, as my eARC didn't come with any, but I think they would compliment this book (not the gory sort, I mean the places she references, a certain item from the case, etc, not looking for salacious for the sake of vapors here). We get exposed to the Cajun culture and I highlighted so many things, from music to food to words. I loved it.
Back included a bibliography, much appreciated. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for eARC
Charming art, super fun and fantastic concept, a plethoraThanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for eARC
Charming art, super fun and fantastic concept, a plethora of diversity and representation (ex: vitiligo, let's go??), but the writing style isn't for me. Too many "haha's" and not enough voice differentiation between characters. I sadly won't be continuing the series, though I hope it gels with others.
Trigger warnings are needed for this series, too....more
Thanks to NETGALLEY and Simon & Schuster for eARC ; was invited to review via e-mail.
"I think we’re all little cathedrals of contradiction. Ter
Thanks to NETGALLEY and Simon & Schuster for eARC ; was invited to review via e-mail.
"I think we’re all little cathedrals of contradiction. Terrifying darkness and shocking beauty coexist in everyone."
This Intriguing, heartbreaking, horrifying memoir is told in three parts through twenty-nine chapters, plus an epilogue. It's also very real, and in that, informative; on cults, on victims, on church, and also the industries (music, acting, etc). On the latter, it was a lot of fun to get some behind-the-scenes stuff. An annoying amount of typos and even duplicate paragraphs, though. That got to be distracting, though I still really enjoyed reading this (I mean, you know, as much as one can 'enjoy' something of this caliber). I like Lenz's writing style and humor. Excellent title, too.
She even thanks the person who did the Book text design. *applauds*
P.S. But Joy loses points for hating on Aurora, excuse you. (�)...more
Thanks to NETGALLEY and St. Martin's Press for eARC
In its twenty chapters, we will use the fictional characters and plot of the Red Dead Redemp
Thanks to NETGALLEY and St. Martin's Press for eARC
In its twenty chapters, we will use the fictional characters and plot of the Red Dead Redemption games to embark on an exploration of the violent social conflicts that convulsed the United States between 1865 and 1920. Ultimately, the book is less a verdict on the “accuracy� of the games and more a journey through the historical worlds that they frequently allude to� but rarely flesh out.
More books like this, please, using media mediums as catalysts into history! This was done SO well, it's fun, engaging, informative, important, well-loved, thoroughly researched...such a great book. It's told in three parts with an intro and epilogue, and covers 1865-1920 + end of Civil War. Tore writes like a teacher sometimes, which I found charming and even comforting. My only complaint, and yes, I have only one, is that my eARC didn't have the photographs! I wasn't even aware there were any until the author referenced it, and seeing a credits section for said images. Alas. I plan on purchasing this book anyway, but it would have been better to see the things Olsson brought attention to.
Can't go wrong with artwork that is adorable, endearing, and gorgeous coupled with integral messages oThanks to NETGALLEY and Tiger Tales for eARC
Can't go wrong with artwork that is adorable, endearing, and gorgeous coupled with integral messages of positivity and acceptance. A perfect springtime book with a sweet message that I partake in frequently; admiring the flora and fauna, the stars and clouds, nifty facts, so on and so forth (I also say things are magic in utter wonderment). ...more
Thanks to NETGALLEY and Penguin Group & Nancy Paulsen Books for eARC
Plot: 5 Characters: 5 Writing Style: 5 Cover: 5 Enjoyment: 5, A+, 100% - definiteThanks to NETGALLEY and Penguin Group & Nancy Paulsen Books for eARC
Plot: 5 Characters: 5 Writing Style: 5 Cover: 5 Enjoyment: 5, A+, 100% - definitely finishing this series, cannot wait for book 2!
We Shall Be Monsters is told through third person POV via Kajal, our fabulous female lead. There are 34 chapters with time jumps. Everything is delicious and amazing. It's a cozy book and I couldn't explain why it feels that way for me. Fully developed interesting characters, fun settings, tantalizing lore, brilliant transitions, heckin' nice twists that I did not see coming. Humor, lovely writing. I would say that Adi felt a little inconsistent at times, though it wasn't enough to sour the genius of the book.
There is SO much in this book, but a small list of what it contains is as follows: reincarnation belief, witches, aga ghora (flame mare, demon), rākshasa, yakshas, bhuta, resurrection / undead, Nagas, Garudas, etc. It's a melding of mythologies as well as creations from Tara Sim.
Very much agree it's like an Indian Frankenstein. ...more
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Stars = Sometimes 3.5, sometimes 4. ¯\_(�)_/¯
Thanks to NETGALLEY and LiveRight for eARC
� At one point, Handler uses sui generis -- 'The
[image]
Stars = Sometimes 3.5, sometimes 4. ¯\_(�)_/¯
Thanks to NETGALLEY and LiveRight for eARC
� At one point, Handler uses sui generis -- 'The adjective sui generis is Latin, meaning literally, "of its own kind." Anything sui generis is its own thing; there's nothing else like it.' -- Uh, yeah, that about sums this work up. This is just as kooky and odd as aSoUE; reading from a physical book would have benefited me better, I think, though. Certain books are like that (for me, at least). It's almost like reading System of a Down lyrics as a book, lol IDEK. I can in the very least NOT recommend reading this on a Kindle, because the formatting is horrid. Heads up.
� I do have to say I appreciate that we're learning how commonplace it is for celebrities to check themselves into places of betterment, that the stigma is getting more and more removed. Always helps knowing you're not alone in your truth.
� “I got interested in this kind of juxtaposition, the way words and phrases could sit on the page and influence each other and the reader, without making exact strict sense.� ~ Handler � “It’s the same feeling when you’re completely immersed in a good book and then, at the conclusion of a chapter or the intrusion of a noise, blink your way back to real life.� ~ Handler
[image] Seriously, JR is such a charming, comfy writer. He was my main voice in wrestling and just Thanks to NETGALLEY and BenBella Books for eARC
[image] Seriously, JR is such a charming, comfy writer. He was my main voice in wrestling and just as delightful there as he is here. If you are or were a wrestling fan (WCW, WWE-/-F, AEW, etc), or definitely if you're a JR fan, then of course you should read this. There aren't chapter numbers, but instead they're marked by a quote, date, and location. The story starts at 1974, ends at 2023, and concludes with index. I liked how he set the timeline, using pop culture and history to mark what's going on, while coinciding with wrestling highlights (ex: “In 1987, The Simpsons first appeared on our screens, Guns N� Roses released Appetite for Destruction, and Three Men and a Baby owned the box office . In wrestling, Owen Hart won Pro Wrestling Illustrated Rookie of the Year, and WrestleMania 3 cemented wrestling as a pay-per-view behemoth with the historic Hulk Hogan versus Andre The Giant main event.�). However, I have to say for me, the quotes peppered within the chapters fell untethered and random. They disrupted the flow. Overall, I'm glad I requested this and was approved!...more
I found this road trip book to be engaging and interesting; I looked up the things Balukjian recommThanks to NETGALLEY and Hachette Books for eARC
I found this road trip book to be engaging and interesting; I looked up the things Balukjian recommended and then some. I learned, I remembered, I mourned. If you're a current or former wrestling fan, I think this book is for you. Brad doesn't shy away from the real and raw, and the history nuggets throughout I felt were necessary for context and expansion.
Told in four parts, with the chapters named "Match (x)", plus an unexpected epilogue that addresses the death of Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, A.K.A. the Iron Sheik. It was touching and well done. There's an author's note, a Kayfabe glossary, and a list of sources. My only complaint is that sometimes the writing/format is jarring, since it holds hints of the journalist style (Balukjian being just that, so maybe habitual?) and deviates from a consistent style.
A Broken Zebra
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