this was really terrible. to the point where I am actually insulted and angry to have read it.
I cannot forgive one dimensional BOTM April 2025 pick.
this was really terrible. to the point where I am actually insulted and angry to have read it.
I cannot forgive one dimensional female main characters that are spiteful and mean but then somehow are redeemed at the very end with zero development or growth. I'm surprised I didn't strain my eyeballs with how many times I rolled my eyes into my f-ing skull.
for a book that desperately seeks with every fiber of its being to empower women, this is a complete joke. we are much more complicated than this. this book not only takes place in the early 2000s but also has the feeling of being written during that time as well....more
I think Hazelwood is an evil genius for somehow getting us all to read the same sex book over and over again. I don't like it, but I respect it. I eveI think Hazelwood is an evil genius for somehow getting us all to read the same sex book over and over again. I don't like it, but I respect it. I even vowed not to read this one but at the slightest of suggestions did it anyway. I didn't hate this book, but I didn't find a lot that I liked either....more
There were plenty of things that I found slightly annoying, kind of like a gnat flying in your face every so often. Like wow that is annoying for likeThere were plenty of things that I found slightly annoying, kind of like a gnat flying in your face every so often. Like wow that is annoying for like a fleeting moment but not annoying enough with such frequency to actually get up to do something about it.Â
For example, these were rich kids, London socialites, in their twenties. They did nothing and had no purpose. Did not love the outfit appraisal and place name drops since I, a Midwesterner who rarely purchases new clothing at the priced rate, had no clue what she was even talking about. The book features an extremely toxic relationship to the upmteenth degree where I questioned whether I, a wise woman in my late thirties, was supposed to actually root for these two complete idiots?
I did not root for them. How could I? But I still actually liked this book. I can't explain it. Reading the description is a completely accurate take on basically the entire novel and reading it now I'm confused why I even decided to read this. Do I like human suffering and rich people with seemingly impeccable taste in clothing (not men)? What is wrong with me? Serious question....more
Hm yes okay something positive to say... I think she deserves to have her story told on her own terms (even if this is her second crack at it). The faHm yes okay something positive to say... I think she deserves to have her story told on her own terms (even if this is her second crack at it). The fact that her innocence is still questioned is pretty wild. I don't think I'd be nearly as nice or patient to the old man prosecutor who made it his personal vendetta to ruin my life.
Unfortunately the writing was very distracting and resembled a rambling, self indulgent journal entry.
I received an e-arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
If I could just live inside this book forever I would. I loved it. This may sound weird, but I felt kind of like the Grinch at the beginning. My sad, If I could just live inside this book forever I would. I loved it. This may sound weird, but I felt kind of like the Grinch at the beginning. My sad, depressed, soul living in the current state of the world just trying to get through the day, reading the blurb and thinking ok whatever. Do your worst, book. And then I felt my heart grow multiple sizes a la Grinch graphic and now I am okay(ish) again.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review....more
First 85% is the same old story we've read in the first two books. Same setting. Same school atmosphere. Same romantic tension but new excuse why theyFirst 85% is the same old story we've read in the first two books. Same setting. Same school atmosphere. Same romantic tension but new excuse why they can't bone all the time but THEY CANNOT NOT. It's too long and lame (even though I still maintain the dragons are amazing) to arrive at a new cliffhanger and this is the same formula and I'm tired of it from this author. Who has the stamina!? Do something else! This series lacks nuance, has too much dialogue, and is in some serious need of clever storytelling. The ending has big time I-will-figure-out-how-this-will-all work-later vibes....more
Early on, I felt fairly certain this would be one of my favorite books of all time. I wanted to just read the book for the rest of my life. Its split Early on, I felt fairly certain this would be one of my favorite books of all time. I wanted to just read the book for the rest of my life. Its split up into four very different perspectives, but the voice of Chia to me was the most engaging and powerful. I found Kadiatou's story pretty depressing. I don't know I guess I was liking the direction of the book going toward self reflection of past relationships and the rumination on those failures, the question of why exactly we end up here, current day. I think that this was a powerful and very relatable theme, the very human aspect of this reflection while enduring the uncertainty of the pandemic. The writing was beautiful and quotable and lovely.
To realize that Kadiatou's story is based loosely on true events is even more upsetting, but of course completely believable and infuriating. But I am exhausted with everyday infuriation. This book simply put me over the edge. Maybe this is why I placed the star rating lower and left me feeling glad to be done with it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review....more
Rating memoirs is difficult to do. I think that because this was her second memoir and because I have not read the first, I was missing some importantRating memoirs is difficult to do. I think that because this was her second memoir and because I have not read the first, I was missing some important background. It's like delving into book two of the series. Sure there are helpful reminders supplied for important points, but I felt like I was missing a part of how we ended up here. So I guess what I'm saying is that I will read it?
I still enjoyed the memoir particularly because I think the whole point is exposure and to learn and grow. That happened. I did not like the nonlinear presentation. I felt click baited by the title and cover photo. Not sure it makes much sense particularly if you are a skimmer of epilogues.
I received an e-arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
I wish this novel took itself a little more seriously because I had a really hard time trying to reconcile the gravity of the book's subject matter wiI wish this novel took itself a little more seriously because I had a really hard time trying to reconcile the gravity of the book's subject matter with the overall tone. I think maybe the point is to reach a certain kind of reader who maybe would not be familiar with UN policies, ISIS brides, or world affairs in general and to have a teaching moment. It seems from the author's note that the author actually has experiences on these topics, but I did not really get that from the pages of this book. The outlandish characters really proved a distraction of what this book is supposed to be about. At 75% I found the absolute drama of it all pretty difficult to get through. I really struggled to finish this one.
I received an e-arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
**spoiler alert** What a complicated cast of characters! This story grabbed me right from the beginning and I could not put the book down. It's one of**spoiler alert** What a complicated cast of characters! This story grabbed me right from the beginning and I could not put the book down. It's one of those rare books where you become completely immersed with everybody's drama and do not want the book to end. I could read about these people all day (and I did!).
I loved Davie! Davie is a 10 year on the autism spectrum, so maybe this hit close to home. Certainly, the book focuses on the "fun" nuances of parenting a child with ASD. What the book does not really focus on is how absolutely hard and impossible doing this is on the daily. It seems easy for Francine to swoop in with money and fresh energy because she did not have to do it every single day like Tucker and Jeannette. I think that's why I struggled with the ending because it ends so positively and unrealistically. Yes, it is all solved now. Francine becomes an expert within a couple of weeks and it's all pretty easy as long as you just love your child. I want an epilogue showing Francine at a bar with her spirit in the toilet after one year's worth of rejection of physical touch and emotional connection to someone with this disability and doing it as a single parent. But it is beautiful to see Francine meeting Davie where is he and loving him completely.
I received an e-arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
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