Divvy 's bookshelf: read en-US Thu, 27 Mar 2025 09:04:23 -0700 60 Divvy 's bookshelf: read 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5)]]> 214331246 When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.]]> 387 Suzanne Collins 1546171460 Divvy 5 i...... am not okay 4.61 2025 Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5)
author: Suzanne Collins
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.61
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/27
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves:
review:
i...... am not okay
]]> A Defence of Poetry 573344 108 Percy Bysshe Shelley 1430482842 Divvy 5 3.87 1595 A Defence of Poetry
author: Percy Bysshe Shelley
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.87
book published: 1595
rating: 5
read at: 2023/05/18
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves: classics, college-read, essay, nonfiction, thought-provoking
review:

]]> Almond 52219386 This story is, in short, about a monster meeting another monster.Ěý

One of the monsters is me.

Yunjae was born with a brain condition called Alexithymia that makes it hard for him to feel emotions like fear or anger. He does not have friends—the two almond-shaped neurons located deep in his brain have seen to that—but his devoted mother and grandmother aren’t fazed by his condition. Their little home above his mother’s used bookstore is decorated with colorful post-it notes that remind him when to smile, when to say "thank you," and when to laugh. Yunjae grows up content, even happy, with his small family in this quiet, peaceful space.

Then on Christmas Eve—Yunjae’s sixteenth birthday—everything changes. A shocking act of random violence shatters his world, leaving him alone and on his own. Struggling to cope with his loss, Yunjae retreats into silent isolation, until troubled teenager Gon arrives at his school and begins to bully Yunjae.Ěý

Against all odds, tormentor and victim learn they have more in common than they realized. Gon is stumped by Yunjae’s impassive calm, while Yunjae thinks if he gets to know the hotheaded Gon, he might learn how to experience true feelings. Drawn by curiosity, the two strike up a surprising friendship. As Yunjae begins to open his life to new people—including a girl at school—something slowly changes inside him. And when Gon suddenly finds his life in danger, it is Yunjae who will step outside of every comfort zone he has created to perhaps become a most unlikely hero.Ěý

The Emissary meets The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime in this poignant and triumphant story about how love, friendship, and persistence can change a life forever.]]> 272 Sohn Won-Pyung 0062961373 Divvy 4 4.16 2017 Almond
author: Sohn Won-Pyung
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/06
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: young-adult, disability-rep, coming-of-age, fiction, fun, heartfelt, poc-rep, thought-provoking
review:
I'm so glad translators exist because it means i get to see a new perspective and a new world every day through books<3
]]> <![CDATA[Dueling the Suitors : A King Thrushbeard Retelling]]> 218133227 What if the princess unknowingly said 'I do' to the very enemy threatening her kingdom?

Princess Astoria always hated the idea of marriage.

So when her father demands she wed a powerful wizard to defend their kingdom from invasion, Astoria agrees on one her prospective groom must first defeat her in a magical duel and prove himself worthy of her hand.

Suitor after suitor, Astoria bests every magic-born man her father presents, earning her fame across the continent as the Unyielding Princess of Daliston.

When no mages remain to challenge her, a lowly street performer arrives at the castle to face the renowned princess. Little does she know, this mysterious stranger may be the only one powerful enough to defeat her in the duel.

But what happens when her champion turns out to be the one man she never expected?

Dueling the Suitors is one of eleven novels in the INTO THE ENCHANTED series—a standalone collection of no-spice fairytale retellings where magic-born heroines discover their happily ever after. Brimming with magic, mystery, twists, and swoon-worthy moments, these full-length novels can be enjoyed in any order! ]]> Karen Daliath Divvy 2 adventure, fantasy, romance what in the pro-imperialism? 4.14 Dueling the Suitors : A King Thrushbeard Retelling
author: Karen Daliath
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2025/01/30
date added: 2025/02/07
shelves: adventure, fantasy, romance
review:
what in the pro-imperialism?
]]> <![CDATA[Buy Yourself the Damn Flowers: The self-love guide to growing, healing and learning to put yourself first]]> 207986325
A boyfriend who was very much still in love with his ex? CHECK
Dated a narcissist whose giant gestures of adoration came with control and manipulation? CHECK
Getting together with the popular guy, who turned out to be emotionally unavailable? CHECK

After a series of bad relationships, I knew things needed to change. I decided to focus on me and took myself on dates, bought myself flowers, and chose to spend my time doing the things I love.

Buy Yourself the Damn Flowers is a practical self-love guide that will help you learn how to cultivate a deep and lasting love for the person who matters you.

Tam x]]> 252 KAUR TAM 1785121758 Divvy 5 nonfiction, self-help 4.13 Buy Yourself the Damn Flowers: The self-love guide to growing, healing and learning to put yourself first
author: KAUR TAM
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.13
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/04
date added: 2025/02/07
shelves: nonfiction, self-help
review:

]]> Kingdom of Cards 208869708
Aura Wrentroth - A poison scientist with blood on her hands.

Locklyn Mortsakov - A lord with a cursed heart.

Iskra Storennè - A runaway trying to earn her freedom.

Sören Niaheartson - A detective's son trying to prove himself.

In a dangerous game of betrayal, trust becomes fleeting, magic is a lie, and a friendly smile can hide dark secrets. What started as a matter of inheritance quickly spirals into a wicked waltz. Time is ticking, death is calling, and only one of them can have the coronet. To get it, they must find the murderer and remember one thing: it's all a game.]]> 479 Emmaline Leigh Divvy 0 3.55 Kingdom of Cards
author: Emmaline Leigh
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.55
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: did-not-finish, mystery, historical-fiction
review:
really wanted to like this one but the spiralling paragraphs made it really hard to find out anything about the plot or characters :(
]]> <![CDATA[Nine Liars (Truly Devious, #5)]]> 60495147
Relief comes when David invites Stevie and her friends to join him for study abroad, and his new friend Izzy introduces her to a double-murder cold case. In 1995, nine friends from Cambridge University went to a country house and played a drunken game of hide-and-seek. Two were found in the woodshed the next day, murdered with an ax.

The case was assumed to be a burglary gone wrong, but one of the remaining seven saw something she can’t explain. This was no break-in. Someone’s lying about what happened in the woodshed.

Seven suspects. Two murders. One killer still playing a deadly game.]]> 445 Maureen Johnson 0063032651 Divvy 1 3.79 2022 Nine Liars (Truly Devious, #5)
author: Maureen Johnson
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2022
rating: 1
read at: 2023/01/06
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: detective-fiction, fiction, found-family, mystery, plot-twist, romance, wack, yikes, why-did-i-read-this
review:
Wtf was this book???? It felt like reading a ghostwritten book by someone who had no idea about the characters or the plot or anything. Literally half of it was a London tour. The second timeline with the murder took ages to start. And then Stevie Bell without a case is literally a husk of a character. She says it herself. She has no goals, no plans, no ambitions aside from solving murder cases. She's lying to her friends when they're in the middle of acquiring recommendations and interviews for college apps all so they can solve a stupid murder??? And then, what's with the frequent sex mentions all the damn time?? She had two modes in this book: brain-dead idiot and horny for David. Speaking of which, what even was going on with them in the end??? I assume there'll be more books, but if they're gonna be like this, I'm not reading them.
]]> <![CDATA[Last Chance (Friday Barnes #11)]]> 63109862 Crime is afoot in the city of love in the 11th Friday Barnes mystery!

Someone stole the Mona Lisa. Okay, it was over a hundred years ago, but a recently uncovered letter reveals that the thief forged a copy. That means that the painting in the Louvre now is a fake. And the real Mona Lisa could be anywhere!

Friday Barnes needs to find the truth - and the real painting. She's going undercover as an art student, along with her partner-in-crime-solving, Melanie, and her staggeringly good-looking boyfrenemy, Ian.

As they watch the comings and goings of France's most famous art gallery, they see some very strange things. Amid digital pickpockets, guerrilla graffiti and projectile perfume, Friday soon discovers that the Paris art scene is a hotbed of crime.]]> 196 R.A. Spratt 176014861X Divvy 4 4.44 Last Chance (Friday Barnes #11)
author: R.A. Spratt
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.44
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/12
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: children-s-fiction, middle-grade, detective-fiction, favorites, fiction, fun, funny
review:
Melanie is the greatest icon on this planet.
]]> <![CDATA[Friday Barnes 12: Collision Course: The bestselling detective series]]> 199755573 Friday knows her mother isn't capable of such a thing � this is a woman who can’t even operate a dishwasher. She’s got to smuggle herself into Switzerland to clear her Mum’s name. Fortunately, Melanie is a master of disguise.
After an extremely extreme make-over, Friday arrives at CERN and finds axolotls in the water coolers, graffiti in the great hall and most baffling of all - her sister has fallen in love with an engineer! Can Friday solve these mysteries? Can she keep her family out of prison? And can she recognise Ian if he shaves his head?]]> 196 R.A. Spratt 1760148628 Divvy 4 4.31 Friday Barnes 12: Collision Course: The bestselling detective series
author: R.A. Spratt
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.31
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/12
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: detective-fiction, romance, rivals-to-lovers, fun, funny, favorites, fiction, middle-grade
review:
I now know the height difference between Friday and Ian and my heart is in shambles.
]]> <![CDATA[Truly, Devious (Truly Devious, #1)]]> 29589074
Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.� It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history.

True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder.Ěý

The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers in books two and three.

New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson weaves a delicate tale of murder and mystery in the first book of a striking new series, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and E. Lockhart.]]> 416 Maureen Johnson Divvy 4 3.89 2018 Truly, Devious (Truly Devious, #1)
author: Maureen Johnson
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2023/01/01
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: adventure, detective-fiction, favorites, female-friendships, found-family, fun, heartfelt, mystery, new-favourite, plot-twist, romance, thought-provoking, young-adult
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Vanishing Stair (Truly Devious, 2)]]> 43931400 New York TimesĚý˛ą˛Ô»ĺ Publishers Weekly bestseller!

In New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson’s second novel in the Truly Devious series, there are more twists and turns than Stevie Bell can imagine. No answer is given freely, and someone will pay for the truth with their life.

The Truly Devious case—an unsolved kidnapping and triple murder that rocked Ellingham Academy in 1936—has consumed Stevie for years. It’s the very reason she came to the academy. But then her classmate was murdered, and her parents quickly pull her out of school. For her safety, they say. She must move past this obsession with crime.

Stevie’s willing to do anything to get back to Ellingham, be back with her friends, and solve the Truly Devious case. Even if it means making a deal with the despicable Senator Edward King. And when Stevie finally returns, she also returns to David: the guy she kissed, and the guy who lied about his identity—Edward King’s son.

But larger issues are at play. Where did the murderer hide? What’s the meaning of the riddle Albert Ellingham left behind? And what, exactly, is at stake in the Truly Devious affair? The Ellingham case isn’t just a piece of history—it’s a live wire into the present.]]> 400 Maureen Johnson 0062338099 Divvy 5 4.18 2019 The Vanishing Stair (Truly Devious, 2)
author: Maureen Johnson
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2023/01/02
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: adventure, detective-fiction, favorites, feminism, female-friendships, fiction, found-family, fun, gloomy, lgbt-rep, new-favourite, plot-twist, romance, thought-provoking, young-adult
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Hand on the Wall (Truly Devious, #3)]]> 45240918
She knows who Truly Devious is. She’s solved it. The greatest case of the century.

At least, she thinks she has. With this latest tragedy, it’s hard to concentrate on the past. Not only has someone died in town, but David disappeared of his own free will and is up to something. Stevie is sure that somehow—somehow—all these things connect. The three deaths in the present. The deaths in the past. The missing Alice Ellingham and the missing David Eastman. Somewhere in this place of riddles and puzzles there must be answers.

Then another accident occurs as a massive storm heads toward Vermont. This is too much for the parents and administrators. Ellingham Academy is evacuated. Obviously, it’s time for Stevie to do something stupid. It’s time to stay on the mountain and face the storm—and a murderer.

In the tantalizing finale to the Truly Devious trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson expertly tangles her dual narrative threads and ignites an explosive end for all who’ve walked through Ellingham Academy.

New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson delivers the witty and pulse-pounding conclusion to the Truly Devious series as Stevie Bell solves the mystery that has haunted Ellingham Academy for over 75 years.]]> 369 Maureen Johnson 0062338110 Divvy 5 4.12 2020 The Hand on the Wall (Truly Devious, #3)
author: Maureen Johnson
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2023/01/03
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: adventure, detective-fiction, favorites, fiction, female-friendships, found-family, fun, heartfelt, lgbt-rep, mystery, new-favourite, plot-twist, romance, thought-provoking, young-adult
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Box in the Woods (Truly Devious, #4)]]> 52716736 TheĚýTruly Devious series continues as Stevie Bell investigates her first mystery outside of Ellingham Academy in this spine-chilling and hilarious stand-alone mystery.

Amateur sleuth Stevie Bell needs a good murder. After catching a killer at her high school, she’s back at home for a normal (that means boring) summer.

But then she gets a message from the owner of Sunny Pines, formerly known as Camp Wonder Falls—the site of the notorious unsolved case, the Box in the Woods Murders. Back in 1978, four camp counselors were killed in the woods outside of the town of Barlow Corners, their bodies left in a gruesome display. The new owner offers Stevie an invitation: Come to the camp and help him work on a true crime podcast about the case.

Stevie agrees, as long as she can bring along her friends from Ellingham Academy. Nothing sounds better than a summer spent together, investigating old murders.

But something evil still lurks in Barlow Corners. When Stevie opens the lid on this long-dormant case, she gets much more than she bargained for. The Box in the Woods will make room for more victims. This time, Stevie may not make it out alive.]]> 400 Maureen Johnson 0063032627 Divvy 4 4.05 2021 The Box in the Woods (Truly Devious, #4)
author: Maureen Johnson
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2023/01/05
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: detective-fiction, fiction, found-family, funny, fun, mystery, plot-twist, poc-rep, romance, young-adult
review:
Loved the murder mystery and the summer camp setting but I still don't get why Stevie and David are together. Also I noticed that we don't get Stevie's thought process very well. I mean we get her confusion, we get the lightbulbs going off in ger head, but we never get how she reaches her conclusions. This would all be fine if she wasn't the narrator, only the detective, like in old detective fiction, but she is and it's kinda frustrating to see we never get how her brain works to solve all these cold cases.
]]> <![CDATA[All Fall Down (Embassy Row, #1)]]> 22571275
Grace Blakely is absolutely certain of three things:

1. She is not crazy.
2. Her mother was murdered.
3. Someday she is going to find the killer and make him pay.

As certain as Grace is about these facts, nobody else believes her -- so there's no one she can completely trust. Not her grandfather, a powerful ambassador. Not her new friends, who all live on Embassy Row. Not Alexei, the Russian boy next door, who is keeping his eye on Grace for reasons she neither likes nor understands.

Everybody wants Grace to put on a pretty dress and a pretty smile, blocking out all her unpretty thoughts. But they can't control Grace -- no more than Grace can control what she knows or what she needs to do. Her past has come back to hunt her . . . and if she doesn't stop it, Grace isn't the only one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world stand like dominoes, and one wrong move can make them all fall down.]]> 310 Ally Carter 0545654742 Divvy 2 3.86 2015 All Fall Down (Embassy Row, #1)
author: Ally Carter
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2022/07/26
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: authors-google-something-for-once, detective-fiction, fiction, mystery, plot-driven, plot-twist, wack, why-did-i-read-this, yikes, young-adult
review:
I didn't think a book could get so insufferable and yet this one managed to hit the ball out of the park.
]]> <![CDATA[The Plot Thickens (Friday Barnes, #5)]]> 29969426
When Friday Barnes gets involved in her frenemy Ian Wainscott's family dispute, it appears her knack for uncovering the truth may ruin their friendship once and for all.

Highcrest Academy is no longer a fun place to be. Ian has declared war on Friday and she is thinking of leaving . . . for good. Meanwhile, there's two new teachers to contend with - a celebrity artist whose intentions are somewhat unclear, and an over-enthusiastic PE teacher on a fitness crusade. Between them and Ian, it's going to be one dangerous term. Can Friday repair her friendship with Ian, restore her perfect school-life balance and work out who is committing the blatant acts of vandalism around Highcrest? No one said high school would be easy!]]> 151 R.A. Spratt 0857989944 Divvy 4 4.53 2016 The Plot Thickens (Friday Barnes, #5)
author: R.A. Spratt
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2022/06/15
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: adventure, children-s-fiction, detective-fiction, favorites, female-friendships, fun, funny, middle-grade, mystery, new-favourite, rivals-to-lovers, wack
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Danger Ahead (Friday Barnes, #6)]]> 32178760 School camp . . . what could possibly go wrong?

Friday Barnes is forced to face her biggest fear - her own emotions! She must wave goodbye to Ian as he takes off to join his father in the Cayman Islands. But when your dad is a white-collar criminal, family reunions never go to plan. Ian is kidnapped en route and it's up to Friday to rescue him.

On her return to school, the Headmaster has a treat in store - a four-week camp for students to learn wilderness survival skills! 'Camp Courage' is even worse than Friday imagined. And all her book smarts aren't much help when she's got wood to chop, potatoes to peel and latrines to dig.

Can Friday survive the great outdoors, debunk the legend of a camp ghost and make it back to Highcrest Academy alive? Only time (and a compass) will tell!]]> 183 R.A. Spratt 0857989960 Divvy 5 4.54 2017 Danger Ahead (Friday Barnes, #6)
author: R.A. Spratt
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2022/06/16
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: adventure, children-s-fiction, detective-fiction, favorites, female-friendships, fiction, fun, funny, middle-grade, mystery, new-favourite, rivals-to-lovers
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Never Fear (Friday Barnes, #8)]]> 37540607 Friday's time at Highcrest is running out!

The new headmaster is turning everything upside down. Friday's irritatingly high IQ has her fast-tracked to graduation, while a pair of incriminating pants puts Ian on the rocky road to expulsion.

When a rumour emerges of embezzled gold stashed on the school grounds, Friday is determined to uncover the truth. But some big questions remain: Can she stay out of detention long enough to solve the mystery? How will Melanie survive without Friday to tell her what class she's in? And will Friday ever get that first kiss with Ian?

With implosions and explosions everywhere, Friday Barnes will have to use her head and get a grip on her beating heart in order to find the gold that lies within.]]> 192 R.A. Spratt 0143784218 Divvy 5 Actual rating: 4.5/5 4.62 2018 Never Fear (Friday Barnes, #8)
author: R.A. Spratt
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.62
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2022/06/18
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: adventure, children-s-fiction, detective-fiction, favorites, female-friendships, fiction, funny, fun, middle-grade, new-favourite, plot-driven, rivals-to-lovers, romance, wack
review:
Actual rating: 4.5/5
]]> <![CDATA[Bones Never Lie (Temperance Brennan, #17)]]> 19322169
Unexpectedly called in to the Charlotte PD’s Cold Case Unit, Dr. Temperance Brennan wonders why she’s been asked to meet with a homicide cop who’s a long way from his own jurisdiction. The shocking answer: Two child murders, separated by thousands of miles, have one thing in common - the killer. Years ago, Anique Pomerleau kidnapped and murdered a string of girls in Canada, then narrowly eluded capture. It was a devastating defeat for her pursuers, Brennan and police detective Andrew Ryan. Now, as if summoned from their nightmares, Pomerleau has resurfaced in the United States, linked to victims in Vermont and North Carolina. When another child is snatched, the reign of terror promises to continue - unless Brennan can rise to the challenge and make good on her second chance to stop a psychopath.

But Brennan will have to draw her bitter ex-partner out of exile, keep the local police and feds from one another’s throats, and face more than just her own demons as she stalks the deadliest of predators into the darkest depths of madness.

In Bones Never Lie, Kathy Reichs never fails to satisfy readers looking for psychological suspense that’s more than skin-deep.]]> 326 Kathy Reichs 0345544013 Divvy 4 3.95 2014 Bones Never Lie (Temperance Brennan, #17)
author: Kathy Reichs
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2022/03/06
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: detective-fiction, college-read, fiction, feminism, mystery, plot-twist
review:
I really liked Dr. Brennan's whole character. She is smart, witty, competent without it ever being too on your nose and I really like how she stands her ground with people, in general. I found her and Andrew Ryan to be really cute when they had their banter and moments. The lack of romance until the end was a very refreshing aspect. Possibly because this is a adult novel. Dr. Brennan's bonds with her mom and Mary Louise and her cat, Birdie. The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat and this book has really short chapters that kept me wanting more. Mostly because they all ended on a cliffhanger
]]> <![CDATA[Girl Detective (Friday Barnes, #1)]]> 25663502
Soon she's investigating everything from disappearing homework to the terrifying Yeti haunting the school swamp. But the biggest mystery yet is Ian Wainscott, the handsomest (and most arrogant) boy in school who inexplicably hates her. Will the homework be found? Can they ever track down the Yeti? And why is Ian out to ruin her?

With black-and-white art throughout, this is the launch of an exciting new mystery series!]]> 272 R.A. Spratt 1626722978 Divvy 5 4.31 2014 Girl Detective (Friday Barnes, #1)
author: R.A. Spratt
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at: 2022/06/10
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: adventure, children-s-fiction, detective-fiction, female-friendships, fun, funny, middle-grade, mystery, new-favourite, rivals-to-lovers, wack
review:
I AM HOLLERING THIS IS THE BEST ONE I READ THIS MONTH. I give up on YA seriously. I mean, how is it that a book not written for my age group hits the ball out of the park for everything I need: a smart female protagonist, wholesome f/f friendships, amazing mysteries, hilarious one-liners, and frickin academic rivals without the romance plotline taking over any other aspects? I love this. I'm a fan now <3
]]> <![CDATA[Under Suspicion (Friday Barnes #2)]]> 35897096 “A must-have series for middle-grade readers.� �Booklist

Friday Barnes, girl detective, is... under arrest?!

Getting arrested was the last thing Friday expected after solving the swamp-yeti mystery at her boarding school. But she better clear her name fast! She’s got new cases to investigate, like a scandalous quiche bake-off, a decades old mystery buried in her school’s backyard, and why the new boy, Christopher, is being so nice to her.

More adventures and intrigue ensue in Under Suspicion: A Friday Barnes Mystery, the second book in the illustrated Friday Barnes mystery series, starring a genius detective with the brains (and social skills) of Sherlock Holmes.

Don't miss any of the Friday Barnes books! Start the adventure all over again with Girl Detective: A Friday Barnes Mystery or continue on with Book Three, No Rules: A Friday Barnes Mystery by R. A. Spratt and illustrated by Phil Gosier.

Praise for Under Suspicion: A Friday Barnes Mystery:

“Spratt continues to hit just the right mix of dry humor and suspense. Her characterization of her protagonist shines . . . Readers know that, like Sherlock Holmes, Friday will solve every mystery; the book’s fun is in seeing how she does it . . . A cliffhanger ending will have readers drumming their fingers as they wait for the next episode.� �Kirkus Reviews

“[For] readers who like humor but also want more intelligent characters and jokes, as well as those who like quirky mysteries.� �Booklist

“This second book in the Friday Barnes series is even funnier and quirkier than its predecessor.� �School Library Journal

]]> 298 R.A. Spratt Divvy 5 4.69 2015 Under Suspicion (Friday Barnes #2)
author: R.A. Spratt
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.69
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2022/06/11
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: adventure, children-s-fiction, favorites, female-friendships, fiction, fun, funny, middle-grade, new-favourite, rivals-to-lovers, wack, detective-fiction
review:
THE PLOT TWIST AT THE CLIMAX HOLY HELL I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. I love how the writer uses Chekhov's Gun as a literary device. I love seeing Friday and Melanie be their adorable, dorky selves, and Ian try to pull shenanigans every time he sees Friday. I even love the Headmaster! All his illustrations make me laugh, and his love for chocolate cookies and done with everything attitude is a mood <3
]]> <![CDATA[Big Trouble (Friday Barnes #3)]]> 33869636 In the third book in R.A. Spratt's hilarious Friday Barnes Mystery series, crime hits close to home when Friday Barnes learns her mother has been kidnapped. But her detective work gets put aside when Friday is distracted by other happenings at school: a new VIP student (a Norwegian princess!) has just arrived and a master thief called the Pimpernel is causing chaos across campus. Can super sleuth and girl genius Friday crack the case of her missing mother, reign in a royal brat, and unmask the elusive Pimpernel?

Big Trouble: A Friday Barnes Mystery brings the same wit and humor that kept readers puzzling and laughing in Friday Barnes, Girl Detective and Friday Barnes Under Suspicion.

]]> 289 R.A. Spratt Divvy 5 4.75 2015 Big Trouble (Friday Barnes #3)
author: R.A. Spratt
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.75
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2022/06/13
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: adventure, children-s-fiction, detective-fiction, female-friendships, funny, rivals-to-lovers
review:

]]> No Rules (Friday Barnes, #4) 28205708 What if every clue points in the wrong direction?

Friday Barnes has been deported to Switzerland! With their in-school detective gone, Highcrest Academy has descended into chaos. Someone's fired all the teachers!

The Headmaster claims it wasn't him, and suspicion soon turns to Ian Wainscott, but Friday won't stand by and let her favourite nemesis take the blame. Apart from being innocent (probably), he's seriously good-looking. There's also the problem of the new vice principal and his questionable teaching methods. It's hard to take someone seriously when they wear tie-dyed t-shirts. Can Friday save Ian's scholarship? Can she find the prankster before they bring down the school? Can she run the cross country? She's certainly going to try . . . to do the first two, anyway.]]> 273 R.A. Spratt 085798702X Divvy 5 4.50 2016 No Rules (Friday Barnes, #4)
author: R.A. Spratt
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2022/06/14
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: adventure, children-s-fiction, detective-fiction, favorites, female-friendships, fiction, fun, funny, middle-grade, new-favourite, mystery, rivals-to-lovers, wack
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Hollow Boy (Lockwood & Co., #3)]]> 24397043
Meanwhile, there are reports of many new hauntings, including a house where bloody footprints are appearing, and a department store full of strange sounds and shadowy figures. But ghosts seem to be the least of Lockwood & Co.'s concerns when assassins attack during a carnival in the center of the city. Can the team get past their personal issues to save the day on all fronts, or will bad feelings attract yet more trouble?

Danger abounds, tensions escalate, and new loyalties form in this third delightfully terrifying adventure in the critically acclaimed Lockwood & Co. series.]]> 374 Jonathan Stroud 1484709683 Divvy 4 4.36 2015 The Hollow Boy (Lockwood & Co., #3)
author: Jonathan Stroud
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/16
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: children-s-fiction, detective-fiction, found-family, horror, mystery, middle-grade, new-favourite, urban-fantasy, paranormal-fiction
review:
The girl-girl rivalry was getting on my nerves but the plot (and Lockwood and George in general) made up for it. The real kicker, however, came right at the fucking end. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT PLOT TWIST, MR. STROUD????? I DEMAND FRICKIN ANSWERS. THANK GOD THIS SERIES IS COMPLETED I WOULD'VE DIED IN SHOCK OTHERWISE! Should have seen it coming though. There were plenty of hints scattered throughout.
]]> <![CDATA[Crimson City (Muzaffar Jang, #4)]]> 26862823
In the spring of 1657, the Mughal armies have reached the Deccan, besieging the Fort of Bidar. Back home in Dilli, there is unrest: the empire seethes and stirs, and its capital reflects this turbulence. Muzaffar Jang, newly married to his beloved Shireen and trying to adjust to life as a husband, stumbles into the investigation of a merchant's murder. Even as another crime - the kidnapping of a wealthy moneylender's infant son - occurs, Muzaffar finds himself at odds with his brother-in-law, Khan Sahib, the Kotwal of Dilli.

Things get increasingly puzzling as one murder follows another and, soon, it is clear that the streets of Dilli have a serial killer on the loose. Muzaffar, who soon finds himself at odds with the system as well as those closest to him, must follow his gut to unmask this audacious murderer, while trying to obey Khan Sahib's warning: do not get in the way of the law. But has he finally bitten off more than he can chew?]]> 336 Madhulika Liddle 9350097869 Divvy 5 This book is set in Mughal India, specifically in Shah Jahan's reign, in the chaotic, magnificent, slightly overwhelming city that is Dilli (modern-day Delhi isn't any different, to be honest oof). And you guessed it! A murder happens! Then another. And another.
Muzaffar and Shireen as the main leads were adorable and their relationship is honesty goals ]]> 3.86 2015 Crimson City (Muzaffar Jang, #4)
author: Madhulika Liddle
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2022/02/27
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: college-read, detective-fiction, fiction, fun, heartfelt, indian-author, indian-history, mystery, new-favourite, poc-rep, socio-religious-commentary, thought-provoking
review:
Move aside, basic people reading basic mysteries set in historical Europe and America. This one takes the cake for being an amazing piece of work that everyone should read.
This book is set in Mughal India, specifically in Shah Jahan's reign, in the chaotic, magnificent, slightly overwhelming city that is Dilli (modern-day Delhi isn't any different, to be honest oof). And you guessed it! A murder happens! Then another. And another.
Muzaffar and Shireen as the main leads were adorable and their relationship is honesty goals
]]> <![CDATA[The Empty Grave (Lockwood & Co., #5)]]> 32324555
So naturally they break into the Fittes Mausoleum, on a perilous mission to discover the truth about London's top ghost-hunting agency, and its sinister leader.

What they discover will change everything.

But there's little time to ponder. A near-miss at a haunted fairground is only the start - as the Fittes agency closes in on the team, an epic struggle commences.

With the help of some unexpected, and rather ghostly, allies, Lockwood & Co must battle their greatest enemy yet, as they move ever closer to the moment when the earth-shattering secret of 'the problem' will finally be revealed.


Jonathan Stroud once again delivers a rousing adventure full of danger, laughs, twists, and frights. The revelations will send readers back to Book 1 to start the series all over again.]]> 448 Jonathan Stroud 1484798570 Divvy 5 4.61 2017 The Empty Grave (Lockwood & Co., #5)
author: Jonathan Stroud
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.61
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2022/01/22
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: adventure, children-s-fiction, detective-fiction, fantasy, favorites, found-family, fiction, friends-to-lovers, funny, fun, middle-grade, mystery, orientalist-stereotyping, wack
review:
oh goodness me this book was such a rollercoaster from beginning to end. I LOVE ALL THE CHARACTERS AND THEIR LITTLE TEAM SO FRICKIN MUCH!!! I WANT TO BE A PART OF LOCKWOOD AND CO. SO BAD HELPPP
]]> You'll Be the Death of Me 56200366
Type A Ivy lost a student council election to the class clown, and now she has to face the school, humiliated. Heartthrob Mateo is burned out--he's been working two jobs since his family's business failed. And outsider Cal just got stood up.... again.

So when Cal pulls into campus late for class and runs into Ivy and Mateo, it seems like the perfect opportunity to turn a bad day around. They'll ditch and go into the city. Just the three of them, like old times. Except they've barely left the parking lot before they run out of things to say...

Until they spot another Carlton High student skipping school--and follow him to the scene of his own murder. In one chance move, their day turns from dull to deadly. And it's about to get worse.

It turns out Ivy, Mateo, and Cal still have some things in common. They all have a connection to the dead kid. And they're all hiding something.

Now they're all wondering--could it be that their chance reconnection wasn't by chance after all?

From the author of One of Us Is Lying comes a brand-new pulse-pounding thriller. It's Ferris Bueller's Day Off with murder when three old friends relive an epic ditch day, and it goes horribly--and fatally--wrong.]]> 336 Karen M. McManus 0593175867 Divvy 5 3.73 2021 You'll Be the Death of Me
author: Karen M. McManus
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2022/02/02
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: detective-fiction, fiction, friends-to-lovers, fun, mystery
review:
As always, McManus's books are phenomenal. Can always rely on them to pull me out of a reading slump. I adored the main trio of characters. Their struggles and secrets and character development made this story all the more interesting. The pacing of this was phenomenal (better than OoUiL), which explains why I finished this in mere hours. Ivy and her overachieving struggles, her fear of rejection really resonated with me. Also appreciate how the book touched upon the topic of female predators and how they are let off easier than their male counterparts. I am so glad that Cal is doing better by the end and is finally happy. Same goes for Mateo; his sense of duty, streak of stubborness and fear of failure also struck a chord. Excellent book honestly.
]]> <![CDATA[The Whispering Skull (Lockwood & Co., #2)]]> 14059024
Things look up when a new client, Mr. Saunders, hires Lockwood & Co. to be present at the excavation of Edmund Bickerstaff, a Victorian doctor who reportedly tried to communicate with the dead. Saunders needs the coffin sealed with silver to prevent any supernatural trouble. All goes well-until George's curiosity attracts a horrible phantom.

Back home at Portland Row, Lockwood accuses George of making too many careless mistakes. Lucy is distracted by urgent whispers coming from the skull in the ghost jar. Then the team is summoned to DEPRAC headquarters. Kipps is there too, much to Lockwood's annoyance. Bickerstaff's coffin was raided and a strange glass object buried with the corpse has vanished. Inspector Barnes believes the relic to be highly dangerous, and he wants it found.]]> 435 Jonathan Stroud 142316492X Divvy 4 4.33 2014 The Whispering Skull (Lockwood & Co., #2)
author: Jonathan Stroud
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/15
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: adventure, detective-fiction, fiction, funny, fun, horror, middle-grade, paranormal-fiction, urban-fantasy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Study in Charlotte (Charlotte Holmes, #1)]]> 23272028
From the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else. But when a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Jamie and Charlotte are being framed for murder, and only Charlotte can clear their names. But danger is mounting and nowhere is safe—and the only people they can trust are each other.]]> 336 Brittany Cavallaro 0062398903 Divvy 3 3.75 2016 A Study in Charlotte (Charlotte Holmes, #1)
author: Brittany Cavallaro
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2021/12/22
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: adventure, mystery, detective-fiction, retellings
review:
This book was like a fever dream :O
]]> <![CDATA[One of Us Is Lying (One of Us is Lying, #1)]]> 58679358 On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose?

Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.]]> 416 Karen M. McManus 0593565371 Divvy 5 3.87 2017 One of Us Is Lying (One of Us is Lying, #1)
author: Karen M. McManus
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2022/10/25
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: detective-fiction, female-friendships, feminism, fiction, found-family, friends-to-lovers, fun, heartfelt, mystery, poc-rep, second-chance-romance, thought-provoking, young-adult
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Pride and Premeditation (Jane Austen Murder Mystery, #1)]]> 53914898
Except the man accused of the crime already has a lawyer on his side: Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the stern young heir to the prestigious Pemberley Associates law firm. Lizzie is determined to solve the murder before Darcy can so that she can show the world that a woman can be just as good as a man. (The fact that Darcy is an infuriating snob doesn’t help.) But there’s still a killer on the loose, and as the case gets more complicated, Lizzie and Darcy may have to start working together to avoid becoming the next victims themselves.



Running Time => 8hrs. and 30mins.

©2021 Tirzah Price (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers]]> 368 Tirzah Price 006288980X Divvy 3 3.74 2021 Pride and Premeditation (Jane Austen Murder Mystery, #1)
author: Tirzah Price
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2021/08/08
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves: retellings, classics, detective-fiction, enemies-to-lovers
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet]]> 18775255 The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

Twenty‑four‑year‑old grad student Lizzie Bennet is saddled with student loan debt and still living at home along with her two sisters—beautiful Jane and reckless Lydia. When she records her reflections on life for her thesis project and posts them on YouTube, she has no idea The Lizzie Bennet Diaries will soon take on a life of their own, turning the Bennet sisters into internet celebrities seemingly overnight.

When rich and handsome Bing Lee comes to town, along with his stuck‑up friend William Darcy, things really start to get interesting for the Bennets—and for Lizzie’s viewers. But not everything happens on‑screen. Lucky for us, Lizzie has a secret diary.

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet takes readers deep inside Lizzie’s world and well beyond the confines of her camera—from the wedding where she first meets William Darcy to the local hangout of Carter’s bar, and much more. Lizzie’s private musings are filled with revealing details about the Bennet household, including her growing suspicions about her parents� unstable financial situation, her sister’s budding relationship with Bing Lee, the perils of her unexpected fame, and her uncertainty over her future—and whom she wants to share it with.

Featuring plenty of fresh twists to delight fans and new readers alike, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet expands on the web series phenomenon that captivated a generation and reimagines the Pride and Prejudice story like never before.]]> 400 Bernie Su 1476763143 Divvy 4 3.96 2014 The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet
author: Bernie Su
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/21
date added: 2025/01/21
shelves: retellings, romance, rivals-to-lovers, young-adult
review:
new favourite Austen retelling unlocked<3 (a little late, but we roll)
]]> <![CDATA[Dating and Dragons (Dungeons and Drama, #2)]]> 213197157 From the author of the nationally bestselling Dungeons and Drama comes another gaming romance that's sure to win you over!

Quinn Norton is starting over at a new high school and hopes that joining a D&D game will be the trick to making friends. The plan sounds even better when she’s invited into a group that includes Logan Weber, the cute and charming guy she met on her first day of class. But this isn’t your average D&D campaign� this group livestreams their games and enforces strict rules: no phones allowed, and no dating other group members.

Quinn is willing to accept the rules, even if it makes Logan off-limits. And she quickly learns that doing so won’t be a problem, since Logan goes from charismatic to insufferable as soon as she agrees to join. As their bickering—and bantering—intensifies inside and outside the game, Quinn can’t help wondering: Is Logan’s infuriating behavior a smokescreen for hidden feelings? Quinn is risking it all, and the twenty-sided dice are rolling!]]> 336 Kristy Boyce 0593899202 Divvy 3 4.04 2024 Dating and Dragons (Dungeons and Drama, #2)
author: Kristy Boyce
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/10
date added: 2025/01/11
shelves: romance, young-adult, found-family, friends-to-lovers, fun, funny
review:
loved the friend group and the theme of toxic friendship. They kinda started liking each other from page two though and then it was just external factors keeping them apart so the 'slow' part of slow-burn got chucked out the window *long, deep sigh*
]]> <![CDATA[The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea]]> 56978100
Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…]]> 325 Axie Oh 1250780861 Divvy 5 4.10 2022 The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
author: Axie Oh
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/08
date added: 2025/01/11
shelves: adventure, fantasy, favorites, fiction, found-family, funny, fun, friends-to-lovers, heartfelt, new-favourite, poc-rep, romance, rivals-to-lovers, young-adult
review:

]]> History of English literature 9276515 Brand New 544 Edward Albert 0245532471 Divvy 4 3.88 1923 History of English literature
author: Edward Albert
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.88
book published: 1923
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/26
date added: 2025/01/11
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Royally Rearranged (Sweet Royal RomCom, #1)]]> 56569600
An arranged marriage isn’t the worst fate for a princess like me. Especially because I’ve been in love with my intended groom since we were children.

But when my prince shows up with an American girlfriend instead of an engagement ring, all arrangements are off.

The clock is nearing midnight--I won’t turn into a pumpkin, but if I’m not wed by summer’s end, I’ll forfeit my kingdom.

Just your typical royal dilemma.

Out of sheer desperation, I make a deal with a devilish duke. Rafe de Silva is the prince’s rival and has a plan so ridiculous it just might work.

One moment, Rafe seems to relish making the prince jealous.

And the next� he’s making me question everything with his words, his touch, and his ability to melt my Ice Princess persona.

I’m not always given the luxury of choice, but now I have a huge one to make. I only hope I don't lose my crown, my heart, or myself in the process�

Royally Rearranged is a sizzling, swoony, closed-door romantic comedy.]]> 405 Emma St. Clair Divvy 3 4.05 Royally Rearranged (Sweet Royal RomCom, #1)
author: Emma St. Clair
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.05
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/09
date added: 2025/01/11
shelves:
review:

]]> Twisted Lies (Twisted, #4) 62058385
Charming, deadly, and smart enough to hide it, Christian Harper is a monster dressed in the perfectly tailored suits of a gentleman.

He has little use for morals and even less use for love, but he can't deny the strange pull he feels toward the woman living just one floor below him.

She's the object of his darkest desires, the only puzzle he can't solve. And when the opportunity to get closer to her arises, he breaks his own rules to offer her a deal she can't refuse.

Every monster has their weakness. She's his.

His obsession.

His addiction.

His only exception.

***

Sweet, shy, and introverted despite her social media fame, Stella Alonso is a romantic who keeps her heart in a cage.

Between her two jobs, she has little time or desire for a relationship.

But when a threat from her past drives her into the arms―and house―of the most dangerous man she's ever met, she's tempted to let herself feel something for the first time in a long time.

Because despite Christian's cold nature, he makes her feel everything when she's with him.

Passionate.

Protected.

Truly wanted.

Theirs is a love twisted with secrets and tainted by lies…and when the truths are finally revealed, they could shatter everything.]]> 560 Ana Huang 1728274893 Divvy 3 4.11 2022 Twisted Lies (Twisted, #4)
author: Ana Huang
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/19
date added: 2024/11/19
shelves: adult, romance, female-friendships, fiction, wack, why-did-i-read-this, what-the-hell, yikes
review:
reading this felt like getting sucked into an alternative dimension
]]> Twisted Hate (Twisted, #3) 60224226 Read Twisted Hate now for a steamy enemies to lovers romance.

He hates her . . . almost as much as he wants her.

Gorgeous, cocky, and fast on his way to becoming a hotshot doctor, Josh Chen has never met a woman he couldn't charm - except for Jules f**king Ambrose.

The beautiful redhead has been a thorn in his side since they met, but she also consumes his thoughts in a way no woman ever has.

When their animosity explodes into one unforgettable night, he proposes a solution that'll get her out of his system once and for an enemies with benefits arrangement with simple rules.

No jealousy.
No strings attached.
And absolutely no falling in love.

***

Outgoing and ambitious, Jules Ambrose is a former party girl who's focused on one passing the attorney's bar exam.

The last thing she needs is to get involved with a doctor who puts the SUFFER in insufferable . . . no matter how good-looking he is.

But the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes there's more than meets the eye to the man she's hated for so long.

Her best friend's brother.
Her nemesis.
And her only salvation.

Theirs is a match made in hell, and when the demons from their past catch up with them, they're faced with truths that could either save them . . . or destroy everything they've worked for.

Twisted Hate is a steamy enemies with benefits/enemies to lovers romance. It's book three in the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone.

It contains explicit content and profanity. Recommended for 18+]]> 504 Ana Huang 1735056693 Divvy 3 idk what I was thinking..... 3.97 2022 Twisted Hate (Twisted, #3)
author: Ana Huang
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/17
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves: adult, romance, what-the-hell, girlboss-until-a-guy-shows-up, contemporary-romance, dislike-to-lovers, fiction
review:
idk what I was thinking.....
]]> Pride and Prejudice 1885 Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work "her own darling child" and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print." The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen's radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.

Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780679783268]]> 279 Jane Austen 1441341706 Divvy 5 4.28 1813 Pride and Prejudice
author: Jane Austen
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.28
book published: 1813
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/14
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves: classics, favorites, female-friendships, feminism, fiction, fun, funny, british-literature, heartfelt, political-commentary, thought-provoking, womens-rights
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Prisoner’s Throne (The Stolen Heir Duology, #2)]]> 61250159 An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.
Ěý
Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude willing to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, Oak will have to decide whether to attempt regaining the trust of the girl he’s always loved or to remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign—even if it means ending Wren, too.
�
Ěý
With a new war looming on the horizon and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak’s guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. It’s just a question of whom he will doom.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black comes the stunning blood-soaked conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology.
Ěý]]> 359 Holly Black 0316592730 Divvy 1 3.88 2024 The Prisoner’s Throne (The Stolen Heir Duology, #2)
author: Holly Black
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2024
rating: 1
read at: 2024/09/18
date added: 2024/11/03
shelves: fantasy, fiction, friends-to-lovers, adventure
review:
chat, wtf was this book. I had a longer rant planned but since i’m writing this review two months late, this will just be a gist. the rest is on my instagram story. One, Oak’s POV was the driest, most tell-y piece of writing I’ve ever read. EVERYTHING WAS TOLD. EVERY EMOTION, EVERYTHING THE OTHER PERSON WAS THINKING. and it was third person present. God knows how much I hate third person present. It’s sort of like a movie camera—you either bring it close to the character (present tense, first person) or keep it at a distance (third person, past tense). STOP DOING BOTH OH MY GOD. Also there was no plot. She literally reworked The Queen of Nothing into something blander than an unseasoned chicken that white people eat. I wanted to know thoughts and emotions and ideas. I didn’t need a play-by-play of every cuisine, dish, and dress in every chapter. Also the lack of Wren POV??? she’s suddenly talking with faerie formality despite having grown up in the mortal world and was perfectly fine in the first book? CAN WE HAVE ROYAL CHARACTERS WHO ACTUALLY UNDERGO POLITICAL TRAINING? OR IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR?
]]> <![CDATA[The Elements of Eloquence: How to Turn the Perfect English Phrase]]> 17415726 The idiosyncratic, erudite and brilliantly funny new book from Mark Forsyth, bestselling author of The Etymologicon and The Horologicon.

In an age unhealthily obsessed with substance, this is a book on the importance of pure style.

From classic poetry to pop lyrics and from the King James Bible to advertising slogans, Mark Forsyth explains the secrets that make a phrase - such as â€Tiger, tiger, burning brightâ€� or â€To be or not to beâ€� - memorable.

In his inimitably entertaining and witty style he takes apart famous lines and shows how you too can write like Shakespeare or Oscar Wilde. Whether you’re aiming for literary immortality or just an unforgettable one-liner, The Elements of Eloquence proves that you don't need to have anything to say - you simply need to say it well.]]> 205 Mark Forsyth 1848316216 Divvy 5 4.35 2013 The Elements of Eloquence: How to Turn the Perfect English Phrase
author: Mark Forsyth
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2024/09/17
date added: 2024/11/03
shelves: writing-stuff, literary-devices, adult
review:
Gonna buy this book. How did he make all the literary devices I learnt in creative writing class like a little jingle I can memorize and incorporate in my writings?
]]> The Girlfriend Act 198822394 To achieve her lifelong dream, Farah needs to pretend she’s in love.

How hard could it be ...?

When aspiring actress Farah Sheikh accidentally goes viral for exposing a prejudiced theatre company, she decides to put on her own production with the Tragedies - a group of theatre kids who are similarly desperate to break into the industry.

They have the crew, all they need now is a stage ... and money.

Enter former superstar Zayan Amin.

The deal? Zayan will star in and fund the Tragedies� play, in exchange for a publicity boost generated by a new and (fake) romance with Farah.

There’s just one problem: they can’t stand each other...]]> 400 Safa Ahmed 0241675219 Divvy 3 4.14 2024 The Girlfriend Act
author: Safa Ahmed
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/08/13
date added: 2024/11/03
shelves: romance, young-adult, contemporary-romance, dislike-to-lovers, poc-rep, socio-political-commentary, female-friendships, fun, funny
review:
I really, really liked the writing; it had this musical quality that I picked up on and it made the reading experience very enjoyable. The discussions on racism and colourism were handled with great care in this novel and I was very satisfied with the resolution of these discussions. I have two gripes with the characters and their relationship. A) the main romance went by too dang fast. yeah, yeah, yeah they were cute and everything. Farah and Zayan had their moments but they got over their dislike sooooo quickly it felt kinda inorganic. There were these scenes where Farah says that they can’t be friends because she’s so attracted to him and he says the same *asexual confusion intensifies* I can never really believe YA contemporary romances (or straight people) because they always fall in love in a mere month or two and that’s exactly what happened here. This, obviously, bleeds into the friendships. Farah’s friend group felt like prop characters at some points. Yes, they had their moments, and they were adorable. Doesn’t change the fact that when there were larger interpersonal conflicts (like her leaving the play when their stage was sabotaged), they started monologuing like therapists. Like I’m sorry that’s not how real people talk???? They don’t immediately start talking about safe space and processing your thoughts. These children are eighteen years old. I think the conflicts got resolved too neatly. The dialogues felt inauthentic because they seemed copy pasted from an APA manual and my psychology textbook’s therapy chapter. Also Farah felt a little too perfect at times. Oh woe is me to be fair-skinned, a talented actress, with a big friend group, dating a movie star. By the end, when he’s about to propose to her (after knowing her only for a YEAR????) she also has an interview with The Actor’s Guild, it veered too much into Wattpad territory. I know this is based on the author’s own unfulfilled experience which led to this lack of objectivity. But seriously, I would’ve appreciated a little more realism.
]]> <![CDATA[Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization]]> 59808487 Bringing his cosmic perspective to civilization on Earth, Neil deGrasse Tyson shines new light on the crucial fault lines of our time—war, politics, religion, truth, beauty, gender, and race—in a way that stimulates a deeper sense of unity for us all.

In a time when our political and cultural views feel more polarized than ever, Tyson provides a much-needed antidote to so much of what divides us, while making a passionate case for the twin chariots of enlightenment—a cosmic perspective and the rationality of science.

After thinking deeply about how science sees the world and about Earth as a planet, the human brain has the capacity to reset and recalibrates life’s priorities, shaping the actions we might take in response. No outlook on culture, society, or civilization remains untouched.

With crystalline prose, Starry Messenger walks us through the scientific palette that sees and paints the world differently. From insights on resolving global conflict to reminders of how precious it is to be alive, Tyson reveals, with warmth and eloquence, an array of brilliant and beautiful truths that apply to us all, informed and enlightened by knowledge of our place in the universe.]]> 271 Neil deGrasse Tyson 1250861500 Divvy 5 4.09 2022 Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization
author: Neil deGrasse Tyson
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/10/08
shelves:
review:

]]> Luck of the Titanic 56226890 From the critically-acclaimed author of The Downstairs Girl comes the richly imagined story of Valora and Jamie Luck, twin British-Chinese acrobats traveling aboard the Titanic on its ill-fated maiden voyage.

Southampton, 1912: Seventeen-year-old British-Chinese Valora Luck has quit her job and smuggled herself aboard the Titanic with two goals in to reunite with her twin brother Jamie--her only family now that both their parents are dead--and to convince a part-owner of the Ringling Brothers Circus to take the twins on as acrobats. Quick-thinking Val talks her way into opulent first-class accommodations and finds Jamie with a group of fellow Chinese laborers in third class. But in the rigidly stratified world of the luxury liner, Val's ruse can only last so long, and after two long years apart, it's unclear if Jamie even wants the life Val proposes. Then, one moonless night in the North Atlantic, the unthinkable happens--the supposedly unsinkable ship is dealt a fatal blow--and Val and her companions suddenly find themselves in a race to survive.

Stacey Lee, master of historical fiction, brings a fresh perspective to an infamous tragedy, loosely inspired by the recently uncovered account of six Titanic survivors of Chinese descent.]]> 384 Stacey Lee 1524740993 Divvy 4 A vision of the shrewd-eyed Reverend Prigg, thundering on about how God saves the righteous, inserts itself into my head. But if that’s truly the case, why are those people—most lowly immigrants just like us—screaming so loud, I swear even the stars pale at the cry?
IN TEARS RIGHT NOW OH MY GOD. I’ve always considered Titanic to be one of the biggest, most heartbreaking tragedies of the real world, and the fact that so many people died to favour the rich boils my blood. So to get to know that there were Chinese passengers onboard too, and that their stories were completely erased due to typical white arrogance and racism was another big blow to my heart. I am so glad this book exists as one answer to that erasure of history.]]> 3.80 2021 Luck of the Titanic
author: Stacey Lee
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/01
date added: 2024/09/27
shelves: fiction, gloomy, heartfelt, new-favourite, poc-rep, plot-twist, this-made-me-cry-go-read-it, thought-provoking, tragedy, young-adult
review:
A vision of the shrewd-eyed Reverend Prigg, thundering on about how God saves the righteous, inserts itself into my head. But if that’s truly the case, why are those people—most lowly immigrants just like us—screaming so loud, I swear even the stars pale at the cry?

IN TEARS RIGHT NOW OH MY GOD. I’ve always considered Titanic to be one of the biggest, most heartbreaking tragedies of the real world, and the fact that so many people died to favour the rich boils my blood. So to get to know that there were Chinese passengers onboard too, and that their stories were completely erased due to typical white arrogance and racism was another big blow to my heart. I am so glad this book exists as one answer to that erasure of history.
]]> <![CDATA[All This Twisted Glory (This Woven Kingdom, #3)]]> 127823371 The highly anticipated third novel in the This Woven Kingdom series, full of explosive magic, searing romance, and heartbreaking betrayal, from the award-winning and bestselling author of the Shatter Me series. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Sabaa Tahir, and Tomi Adeyemi.

As the long-lost heir to the Jinn throne, Alizeh has finally found her people—and she might’ve found her crown. Cyrus, the mercurial ruler of Tulan, has offered her his kingdom in a twisted exchange: one that would begin with their marriage and end with his murder.

Cyrus’s dark reputation precedes him; all the world knows of his blood-soaked past. Killing him should be easy—and accepting his offer might be the only way to fulfill her destiny and save her people. But the more Alizeh learns of him, the more she questions whether the terrible stories about him are true.

Ensnared by secrets, Cyrus has ached for Alizeh since she first appeared in his dreams many months ago. Now that he knows those visions were planted by the devil, he can hardly bear to look at her—much less endure her company. But despite their best efforts to despise each other, Alizeh and Cyrus are drawn together over and over with an all-consuming thirst that threatens to destroy them both.

Meanwhile, Prince Kamran has arrived in Tulan, ready to exact revenge. . . .

Layered with exquisite tension and heart-stopping romance, All This Twisted Glory is the explosive third book in the captivating, bestselling Woven Kingdom series.]]> 397 Tahereh Mafi 0062972502 Divvy 4 4.07 2024 All This Twisted Glory (This Woven Kingdom, #3)
author: Tahereh Mafi
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/24
date added: 2024/09/24
shelves:
review:

]]> Eternally Yours 53292156 Vampires and merpeople, angels and demons—the paranormal is full of unusual beings. The stories in this anthology imagine worlds where the only thing more powerful than the supernatural, is love.

Contributors include: Kalynn Bayron (Cinderella Is Dead); Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns); Kat Cho (Wicked Fox); Melissa de la Cruz (Blue Bloods); Sarah Gailey (When We Were Magic); Hafsah Faizal(We Hunt the Flame); Chloe Gong (These Violent Delights); Alexis Henderson (The Year of the Witching); Adib Khorram (Darius the Great Is Not Okay); Anna-Marie McLemore (When the Moon Was Ours, The Mirror Season); Casey McQuiston (Red, White, and Royal Blue; One Last Stop); Sandhya Menon (When Dimple Met Rishi); Akshaya Raman (The Ivory Key); Marie Rutkoski (The Winner’s Curse); Julian Winters (Running With Lions; Right Where I Left You)]]> 364 Patrice Caldwell Divvy 4 anthology, ya-paranormal 3.64 2022 Eternally Yours
author: Patrice Caldwell
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/14
date added: 2024/09/13
shelves: anthology, ya-paranormal
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Deadly Education (The Scholomance, #1)]]> 50548197
A Deadly Education is set at Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death (for real) � until one girl, El, begins to unlock its many secrets.

There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate� or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere.

El is uniquely prepared for the school’s dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out millions. It would be easy enough for El to defeat the monsters that prowl the school. The problem? Her powerful dark magic might also kill all the other students.]]> 320 Naomi Novik 0593128486 Divvy 3 fantasy, poc-rep, kinda-good 3.93 2020 A Deadly Education (The Scholomance, #1)
author: Naomi Novik
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2024/09/01
date added: 2024/09/03
shelves: fantasy, poc-rep, kinda-good
review:

]]> <![CDATA[One of Us Is Back (One of Us Is Lying, #3)]]> 57932307 The global phenomenon returns with the third book in the One of Us Is Lying series, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen M. McManus. When someone from the Bayview Four’s past resurfaces, history begins to repeat itself—and the consequences are deadly.

The third time’s a charm.

It’s been almost two years since Simon died in detention, and the aftermath has been hard to shake. First the Bayview Four had to prove they weren’t killers. Then a new generation outwitted a vengeful copycat. Now the entire Bayview Crew is back home for the summer, and everyone is trying to move on.

Only, this is Bayview, and life is never that simple.

At first the mysterious billboard seems like a bad Time for a new game, Bayview. But when a member of the Bayview Crew disappears, it’s clear this “game� is serious—and whoever’s in charge isn’t sharing the rules. Or maybe there aren’t any.

Bronwyn. Cooper. Addy. Nate. Maeve. Phoebe. Knox. Luis. Kris. Everyone’s a target. And now that someone unexpected has returned to Bayview, things could start getting deadly.

The thing is, Simon was right about secrets—they all come out eventually. And Bayview has a lot it’s still hiding.]]> 368 Karen M. McManus 0593485033 Divvy 4 3.96 2023 One of Us Is Back (One of Us Is Lying, #3)
author: Karen M. McManus
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/02
date added: 2024/09/03
shelves: mystery, young-adult, favorites, fun, funny, heartfelt
review:
I'm happy that they're all happy<3
]]> <![CDATA[The Loneliest Girl in the Universe]]> 32601841 Can you fall in love with someone you’ve never met, never even spoken to � someone who is light years away?

Romy Silvers is the only surviving crew-member of a spaceship travelling to a new planet, on a mission to establish a second home for humanity amongst the stars. Alone in space, she is the loneliest girl in the universe until she hears about a new ship which has launched from Earth � with a single passenger on board. A boy called J.

Their only communication with each other is via email � and due to the distance between them, their messages take months to transmit across space. And yet Romy finds herself falling in love.

But what does Romy really know about J? And what do the mysterious messages which have started arriving from Earth really mean?

Sometimes, there’s something worse than being alone . . .]]> 290 Lauren James 1406375470 Divvy 4 3.75 2018 The Loneliest Girl in the Universe
author: Lauren James
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/12
date added: 2024/08/13
shelves: young-adult, sci-fi, thriller, space
review:
finished it in one day. stayed up the entire night to think about it. got completely fooled by the romance tag on it. I didn't know how terrifying Among Us could be until I sat in the MC's shoes.
]]> <![CDATA[The Herbwitch Princess (Witches of Olderea, #2)]]> 64416533
Lady Narcissa Greenwood has been haunted by her past since the disaster of last summer’s Season. The society she once reveled in now sees her as the traitor’s daughter. Narcissa fears she can never prove them wrong.

But when rising anti-witch riots lead to her betrothal to Crown Prince Bennett and a grand kingdom tour, Narcissa seizes the chance to atone her mistakes. She is determined to become the dutiful crown princess—even if her stoic fiancé is less than eager to play the loving couple.

However, the crown prince isn’t as unaffected as he seems. Amidst Olderea’s flax fields, bustling marketplaces, and whispers of rebellion, Narcissa must decide whether her past should hinder her future—and whether duty, love, and redemption are separate things after all.]]> 379 Ireen Chau Divvy 5 4.46 The Herbwitch Princess (Witches of Olderea, #2)
author: Ireen Chau
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.46
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/08/09
date added: 2024/08/11
shelves: adventure, cozy-fantasy, dislike-to-lovers, favorites, female-friendships, feminism, fun, funny, children-s-fiction, fantasy, fiction, heartfelt, romance, young-adult
review:
books that i'm going to keep re-reading until time ends.
]]> <![CDATA[The Herbwitch's Apprentice (Witches of Olderea, #1)]]> 56822576
When sixteen-year-old debutante Amarante Flora finds out she’s half witch, all she wants is to get rid of her magic. After all, zapping Prince Ash in the midst of high society’s Season certainly won’t help her troublemaking reputation.

But the more her powers grow, the more she realizes magic—and the witches who possess it—are not as dangerous as she was led to believe. When the queen falls mysteriously ill, Amarante knows there are far more dangers lurking in the palace than in Witch Village.

Among potion-brewing and glittering receptions, Amarante joins Prince Ash in an investigation before innocent witches are condemned. However, uncovering the culprit’s schemes could mean exposing her magic. And exposing her magic would mean her very life—and the contempt of the prince she is trying to help.]]> 416 Ireen Chau Divvy 4 4.22 2021 The Herbwitch's Apprentice (Witches of Olderea, #1)
author: Ireen Chau
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/05
date added: 2024/08/11
shelves: adventure, fantasy, fun, friends-to-lovers, funny, plot-driven, romance, young-adult
review:
this is my favourite, favourite, favourite book series ever. A thousand kisses to the author<3
]]> <![CDATA[King of Wrath (Kings of Sin, #1)]]> 217206738
Ruthless. Meticulous. Arrogant.

Dante Russo thrives on control, both personally and professionally.

The billionaire CEO never planned to marry—until the threat of blackmail forces him into an engagement with a woman he barely knows.

Vivian Lau, jewelry heiress and daughter of his newest enemy.

It doesn’t matter how beautiful or charming she is. He'll do everything in his power to destroy the evidence and their betrothal.

There’s only one problem: Now that he has her...he can't bring himself to let her go.

***

Elegant. Ambitious. Well-mannered.

Vivian Lau is the perfect daughter and her family’s ticket into the highest echelons of high society.

Marrying a blue-blooded Russo means opening doors that would otherwise remain closed to her new-money family.

While the rude, elusive Dante isn't her idea of a dream partner, she agrees to their arranged marriage out of duty.

Craving his touch was never part of the plan.

Neither was the worst thing she could possibly do: fall in love with her future husband.

King of Wrath is a steamy arranged-marriage billionaire romance. It includes explicit content and profanity. Recommended for mature listeners only.]]> 398 Ana Huang Divvy 3 4.05 2022 King of Wrath (Kings of Sin, #1)
author: Ana Huang
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/08/10
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Danny the Champion of the World: Plays for Children]]> 7939240 160 David Wood 0141323760 Divvy 4 4.32 Danny the Champion of the World: Plays for Children
author: David Wood
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[These Infinite Threads (This Woven Kingdom, #2)]]> 61085925
Alizeh, the heir to the Jinn throne, is destined to free her people from the half-lives they’ve been forced to live under human rule. When Kamran, the heir to the human throne, falls in love with her, he’s forced to question everything he’s been taught about Jinn.

Kamran’s grandfather lays dead at the hand of Cyrus, ruler of the neighboring kingdom of Tulan. Cyrus has stolen Alizeh away to his homeland and plans to marry her there, giving her everything she needs to become the Jinn queen—and when she assumes the throne he will have fulfilled his own bargain with the devil.

Alizeh wants nothing to do with Cyrus’s deal or the devil. But without a way to escape Tulan, and with the fulfillment of her own destiny tantalizingly close, she’ll have to decide whether she can set aside her emotions to become the queen her people need.

Kamran, meanwhile, is picking up the pieces in Ardunia. Facing betrayal at every turn, all he knows is that he must go to Tulan to avenge his grandfather. He can only hope that Alizeh will be waiting for him there—and that she hasn’t yet become the queen of Tulan.

Full of explosive magic, searing romance, and heartbreaking betrayal, this breathtaking sequel to This Woven Kingdom is from the award-winning and bestselling author of the Shatter Me series and is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Sabaa Tahir, and Tomi Adeyemi.]]> 416 Tahereh Mafi 0062972499 Divvy 4 4.09 2023 These Infinite Threads (This Woven Kingdom, #2)
author: Tahereh Mafi
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/20
date added: 2024/07/20
shelves: adventure, fantasy, fiction, fun, poc-rep, romance, retellings, young-adult
review:

]]> The Graveyard Book 5499874
There are dangers and adventures for Bod in the graveyard. But it is in the land of the living that real danger lurks for it is there that the man Jack lives and he has already killed Bod's family.]]> 289 Neil Gaiman 0747598843 Divvy 5 4.13 2008 The Graveyard Book
author: Neil Gaiman
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/26
date added: 2024/06/26
shelves: adventure, british-literature, children-s-fiction, fun, funny, fiction, found-family, heartfelt, paranormal-fiction, wack, whimsical, middle-grade
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Beyond the Filigree Wall (Rivenwilde, #1)]]> 62653656 A dark curse. A deadly secret. The ill-fated girl at the heart of both.

Antonetta Ostwind is about to get everything she’s ever wanted. If all goes to plan, she’ll end the fae, steal back what was stolen, and win the post she’s dreamed of since she was a girl.

There’s just one problem. His name is Gideon Alexander.

Gideon holds the key to her coveted post. He’s fantastic with a sword, looks amazing in uniform, and commands even the adoration of his great, beastly dog. He’s living the life Etta needs.

Gideon doesn’t believe Etta should have any of it. In fact, he’s planning to make sure she never does. And that’s a real problem, because if Etta can’t take her post as marshal, how can she have her vengeance and save the kingdom from the prince of the fae?

Slip into clean, slow-burn romance with a properly stabby heroine and the low commitment of a standalone series in this light regency fantasy romp for fans of Enchantment of Ravens and Little Thieves.]]> 205 Melissa Wright Divvy 4 3.44 2022 Beyond the Filigree Wall (Rivenwilde, #1)
author: Melissa Wright
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/21
date added: 2024/06/24
shelves: fantasy, female-friendships, fiction, romance, regency-inspired, rivals-to-lovers, adventure, young-adult
review:

]]> Humankind: A Hopeful History 52879286 From the author of Utopia For Realists, a revolutionary argument that the innate goodness and cooperation of human beings has been the greatest factor in our success

If one basic principle has served as the bedrock of bestselling author Rutger Bregman's thinking, it is that every progressive idea -- whether it was the abolition of slavery, the advent of democracy, women's suffrage, or the ratification of marriage equality -- was once considered radical and dangerous by the mainstream opinion of its time. With Humankind, he brings that mentality to bear against one of our most entrenched ideas: namely, that human beings are by nature selfish and self-interested.

By providing a new historical perspective of the last 200,000 years of human history, Bregman sets out to prove that we are in fact evolutionarily wired for cooperation rather than competition, and that our instinct to trust each other has a firm evolutionary basis going back to the beginning of Homo sapiens. Bregman systematically debunks our understanding of the Milgram electrical-shock experiment, the Zimbardo prison experiment, and the Kitty Genovese "bystander effect."

In place of these, he offers little-known true stories: the tale of twin brothers on opposing sides of apartheid in South Africa who came together with Nelson Mandela to create peace; a group of six shipwrecked children who survived for a year and a half on a deserted island by working together; a study done after World War II that found that as few as 15% of American soldiers were actually capable of firing at the enemy.

The ultimate goal of Humankind is to demonstrate that while neither capitalism nor communism has on its own been proven to be a workable social system, there is a third option: giving "citizens and professionals the means (left) to make their own choices (right)." Reorienting our thinking toward positive and high expectations of our fellow man, Bregman argues, will reap lasting success. Bregman presents this idea with his signature wit and frankness, once again making history, social science and economic theory accessible and enjoyable for lay readers.]]> 462 Rutger Bregman 0316418536 Divvy 5 4.37 2019 Humankind: A Hopeful History
author: Rutger Bregman
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/13
date added: 2024/06/24
shelves: this-made-me-cry-go-read-it, thought-provoking, nonfiction, heartfelt, fun, new-favourite, must-reads, favorites
review:
people will say he's being too optimistic about humanity's potential, but I would say there's nothing more futile than consistently remaining a pessimist.
]]> <![CDATA[Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)]]> 7260188 My name is Katniss Everdeen.
Why am I not dead?
I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans—except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay—no matter what the personal cost.]]> 390 Suzanne Collins 0439023513 Divvy 5 4.10 2010 Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)
author: Suzanne Collins
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/01
date added: 2024/06/24
shelves: dystopia, political-commentary, sci-fi, trauma-narratives, young-adult, thought-provoking, romance, favorites
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)]]> 6148028 Sparks are igniting.
Flames are spreading.
And the Capitol wants revenge.

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol—a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest that she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before . . . and surprising readers at every turn.]]> 391 Suzanne Collins 0439023491 Divvy 5 4.34 2009 Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)
author: Suzanne Collins
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/06/24
shelves: dystopia, fiction, political-commentary, thought-provoking, trauma-narratives
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)]]> 2767052
Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun. . . .

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.]]> 374 Suzanne Collins Divvy 5 4.34 2008 The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)
author: Suzanne Collins
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/06/24
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Mathematician's Lament: How School Cheats Us Out of Our Most Fascinating and Imaginative Art Form]]> 6232657 140 Paul Lockhart 1934137170 Divvy 5 4.18 2009 A Mathematician's Lament: How School Cheats Us Out of Our Most Fascinating and Imaginative Art Form
author: Paul Lockhart
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/13
date added: 2024/06/24
shelves: essay, favorites, fun, heartfelt, nonfiction
review:
deserves to be read on the face of policymakers and education "experts" idc.
]]> <![CDATA[A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man]]> 7588 A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a novel of sexual awakening, religious rebellion and the essential search for voice and meaning that every nascent artist must face in order to blossom fully into themselves.]]> 329 James Joyce 0142437344 Divvy 3 3.64 1916 A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
author: James Joyce
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.64
book published: 1916
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/05/13
shelves:
review:

]]> The Periodic Table 427282 The Periodic Table by Primo Levi is an impassioned response to the Holocaust: Consisting of 21 short stories, each possessing the name of a chemical element, the collection tells of the author's experiences as a Jewish-Italian chemist before, during, and after Auschwitz in luminous, clear, and unfailingly beautiful prose. It has been named the best science book ever by the Royal Institution of Great Britain, and is considered to be Levi's crowning achievement.]]> 233 Primo Levi 0805210415 Divvy 0 to-read 4.17 1975 The Periodic Table
author: Primo Levi
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1975
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> How High We Go in the Dark 57850265
Among those adjusting to this new normal are an aspiring comedian, employed by a theme park designed for terminally ill children, who falls in love with a mother trying desperately to keep her son alive; a scientist who, having failed to save his own son from the plague, gets a second chance at fatherhood when one of his test subjects-a pig-develops human speech; a man who, after recovering from his own coma, plans a block party for his neighbours who have also woken up to find that they alone have survived their families; and a widowed painter and her teenaged granddaughter who must set off on cosmic quest to locate a new home planet.

From funerary skyscrapers to hotels for the dead, How High We Go in the Dark follows a cast of intricately linked characters spanning hundreds of years as humanity endeavours to restore the delicate balance of the world. This is a story of unshakable hope that crosses literary lines to give us a world rebuilding itself through an endless capacity for love, resilience and reinvention. Wonderful and disquieting, dreamlike and all too possible.]]> 293 Sequoia Nagamatsu 0063072645 Divvy 4 3.81 2022 How High We Go in the Dark
author: Sequoia Nagamatsu
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/10
date added: 2024/04/15
shelves: sci-fi, heartfelt, thought-provoking
review:

]]> Murder in the Cathedral 33052
The Archbishop Thomas Becket speaks fatal words before he is martyred in T. S. Eliot's best-known drama, based on the murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1170. Praised for its poetically masterful handling of issues of faith, politics, and the common good, T. S. Eliot's play bolstered his reputation as the most significant poet of his time.]]> 148 T.S. Eliot 0156632772 Divvy 4 3.73 1936 Murder in the Cathedral
author: T.S. Eliot
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.73
book published: 1936
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/24
date added: 2024/03/25
shelves: classics, college-read, socio-religious-commentary
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Oz, #1)]]> 236093 Come along, Toto, she said. We will go to the Emerald City and ask the Great Oz how to get back to Kansas again.

Swept away from her home in Kansas by a tornado, Dorothy and her dog Toto find themselves stranded in the fantastical Land of Oz. As instructed by the Good Witch of the North and the Munchkins, Dorothy sets off on the yellow brick road to try and find her way to the Emerald City and the Wizard of Oz, who can help her get home. With her companions the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy experiences an adventure full of friendship, magic and danger. A much-loved children's classic, The Wizard of Oz continues to delight readers young and old with its enchanting tale of witches, flying monkeys and silver shoes.

]]> 154 L. Frank Baum 0140621679 Divvy 5 OG found family 4.00 1900 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Oz, #1)
author: L. Frank Baum
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1900
rating: 5
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/03/25
shelves: classics, fantasy, funny, found-family, adventure, mary-sue-protagonist, plot-driven
review:
OG found family
]]> <![CDATA[Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde, #2)]]> 134119076 When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late, in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.

Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore who just wrote the world’s first comprehensive encyclopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Ones on her adventures . . . and also from her fellow scholar and former rival Wendell Bambleby.

Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother and in search of a door back to his realm. And despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage: Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and dangers.

She also has a new project to focus on: a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by his mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambleby’s realm and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans.

But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors and of her own heart.]]> 370 Heather Fawcett 0593500202 Divvy 3 4.28 2024 Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde, #2)
author: Heather Fawcett
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/03/25
shelves:
review:

]]> The Man in the High Castle 216363
This harrowing, Hugo Award-winning novel is the work that established Philip K. Dick as an innovator in science fiction while breaking the barrier between science fiction and the serious novel of ideas. In it Dick offers a haunting vision of history as a nightmare from which it may just be possible to wake.]]> 259 Philip K. Dick 0679740678 Divvy 0 to-read 3.64 1962 The Man in the High Castle
author: Philip K. Dick
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.64
book published: 1962
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Brave New World 5129 Brave New World is a searching vision of an unequal, technologically-advanced future where humans are genetically bred, socially indoctrinated, and pharmaceutically anesthetized to passively uphold an authoritarian ruling order–all at the cost of our freedom, full humanity, and perhaps also our souls. “A genius [who] who spent his life decrying the onward march of the Machine� (The New Yorker), Huxley was a man of incomparable talents: equally an artist, a spiritual seeker, and one of history’s keenest observers of human nature and civilization. Brave New World, his masterpiece, has enthralled and terrified millions of readers, and retains its urgent relevance to this day as both a warning to be heeded as we head into tomorrow and as thought-provoking, satisfying work of literature. Written in the shadow of the rise of fascism during the 1930s, Brave New Worldd likewise speaks to a 21st-century world dominated by mass-entertainment, technology, medicine and pharmaceuticals, the arts of persuasion, and the hidden influence of elites.

"Aldous Huxley is the greatest 20th century writer in English." —Chicago Tribune]]> 268 Aldous Huxley 0060929871 Divvy 0 to-read 3.99 1932 Brave New World
author: Aldous Huxley
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.99
book published: 1932
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Of Curses and Kisses (St. Rosetta's Academy, #1)]]> 43985469 The first novel in a series set at an elite international boarding school, that’s a contemporary spin on Beauty and the Beast.

Will the princess save the beast?

For Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. When the loathsome Emerson clan steps up their centuries-old feud to target Jaya’s little sister, nothing will keep Jaya from exacting her revenge. Then Jaya finds out she’ll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, and it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. She knows what she must do: Make Grey fall in love with her and break his heart. But much to Jaya’s annoyance, Grey’s brooding demeanor and lupine blue eyes have drawn her in. There’s simply no way she and her sworn enemy could find their fairy-tale ending…right?

His Lordship Grey Emerson is a misanthrope. Thanks to an ancient curse by a Rao matriarch, Grey knows he’s doomed once he turns eighteen. Sequestered away in the mountains at St. Rosetta’s International Academy, he’s lived an isolated existence—until Jaya Rao bursts into his life, but he can't shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. Something that might just have to do with the rose-shaped ruby pendant around her neck�

As the stars conspire to keep them apart, Jaya and Grey grapple with questions of love, loyalty, and whether it’s possible to write your own happy ending.]]> 384 Sandhya Menon Divvy 3 3.43 2020 Of Curses and Kisses (St. Rosetta's Academy, #1)
author: Sandhya Menon
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/03/16
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Of Princes and Promises (St. Rosetta's Academy, #2)]]> 55710737 From the New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi comes the second installment in a brand-new series set an elite boarding school that’s a contemporary spin on fairy tales, this one a delightful, romantic twist on The Frog Prince.

Caterina LaValle is determined to show she’s still the queen of St. Rosetta’s Academy. Sure, her crown may be slightly askew after her ex-boyfriend, Alaric, cheated on her, but she’s a LaValle. She’ll find a way to march right back in there, her hands clutching the strings to the whole puppet show. This time, she’s going to be untouchable.

Rahul Chopra knows that moment he shared with Caterina LaValle at the winter formal meant something. Surely she feels it, too. He’s a little uncertain how someone like him (socially inept to a point way past “adorkable�) could fit into her world, but he’s loved Caterina for years. He knows they’ll find a way.

When Caterina finds out Alaric is taking a supermodel to the upcoming gala, she knows she cannot arrive without the perfect date. But the thought of taking another superficial St. R’s boy exhausts her. The solution? Sweet-but-clueless Rahul Chopra and a mysterious pot of hair gel with the power to alter the wearer into whatever his heart desires.

When Rahul tries it, he transforms instantly into RC—debonair, handsome, and charming. But transformation comes with a price: As Rahul enjoys his new social standing, the line between his two personas begins to blur. Will he give up everything, including Caterina, to remain RC? Or will this unlikely pair find their way back to each other?]]> 320 Sandhya Menon 1534417575 Divvy 1 3.56 2021 Of Princes and Promises (St. Rosetta's Academy, #2)
author: Sandhya Menon
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2021
rating: 1
read at:
date added: 2024/03/16
shelves:
review:

]]> My Mechanical Romance 58857822 Opposites attract in this nerdy YA romance from the NYT best-selling author of The Atlas Six!

A Mathical Book Prize Honor Book

"It’s rom-com perfection."—Adiba Jaigirdar, author of The Henna Wars

Bel doesn't want to think about the future. College apps? You’re funny. Extracurriculars? Not a chance. Joining a robotics club filled with boys who ignore her or--even worse--constantly ask if she needs help? Please, anything but that. But when she accidentally reveals a talent for engineering in class, she has no choice. Enter Mateo Luna, the handsome captain of the club.

Teo instantly recognizes Bel's talent. He needs her on the team. And not just because he can't stop thinking about the tiny dusting of freckles around her eyes, or how she got him hooked on Taylor Swift--it's because Bel sees him. She challenges him. But when they seriously start butting heads, Bel wonders: Is there really room for a girl like her in STEM?

In her YA debut, Alexene Farol Follmuth, author of The Atlas Six (under the penname Olivie Blake), explores both the challenges girls of color face in STEM and the vulnerability of first love with unfailing wit and honesty. Told from dual points of view, My Mechanical Romance is not only swoonworthy--it's downright empowering.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
A Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers Nominee
A Massachusetts Teen Choice Book Award Nominee]]> 272 Alexene Farol Follmuth 0823450104 Divvy 4 3.84 2022 My Mechanical Romance
author: Alexene Farol Follmuth
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/03/16
shelves:
review:

]]> Summer Nights and Meteorites 197690627 From the two-timeĚýSydney Taylor Honor authorĚýcomes another sweet Nantucket-set summer romance, perfect for fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon and K.L. Walther.Jordan Edelman’s messy dating days are over. After a few too many broken hearts, and a father who worries a bit too much, she’s sworn off boys—at least for the summer. And since she’ll be tagging along on her father’s research trip to Nantucket, she doesn’t think it’ll be too hard to stick to her resolution.But hooking up with the cute boy on the ferry doesn’t count, right? At least, not until that cute boy turns out to be Ethan Barbanel. As in, her father’s longtime research assistant Ethan Barbanel, the boy Jordan has hated from afar for years. And to make matters worse, Jordan might actually be falling for him.ĚýAs if that didn’t complicate her life enough, Jordan’s new summer job with a local astronomer turns up a centuries-old mystery surrounding Gibson’s Comet—and as she dives into her research, what she learns just might put her growing relationship with Ethan in jeopardy.]]> 352 Hannah Reynolds 0593617339 Divvy 0 to-read 4.08 2024 Summer Nights and Meteorites
author: Hannah Reynolds
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Eight Nights of Flirting (Golden Doors #2)]]> 59230201 A sixteen-year-old girl is on a mission to find the perfect boyfriend this Hanukkah, but love might not go according to plan.

Shira Barbanel has a plan: this Hanukkah, she’s going to get a boyfriend. And she has the perfect candidate in mind—her great-uncle’s assistant, Isaac. He’s reliable, brilliant, and of course, super hot. The only problem? Shira’s an absolute disaster when it comes to flirting.

Enter Tyler Nelson, Shira’s nemesis-slash-former-crush. As much as she hates to admit it, Tyler is the most charming and popular guy she knows. Which means he’s the perfect person to teach her how to win Isaac over.

When Shira and Tyler get snowed in together at Golden Doors, they strike a deal—flirting lessons for Shira in exchange for career connections for Tyler. But as Shira starts to see the sweet, funny boy beneath Tyler’s playboy exterior, she realizes she actually likes hanging out with him. And that wasn’t part of the plan.

Amidst a whirl of snowy adventures, hot chocolate, and candlelight, Shira must learn to trust her heart to discover if the romance she planned is really the one that will make her happiest.]]> 400 Hannah Reynolds 059334975X Divvy 5 3.90 2022 Eight Nights of Flirting (Golden Doors #2)
author: Hannah Reynolds
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/13
date added: 2024/03/16
shelves: contemporary-romance, friends-to-lovers, new-favourite, romance, young-adult, second-chance-romance
review:
I???? Loved this???? So much???? I hadn't expected to, really. I'd just wanted a cutesy romance novel to pass the time but oh my GOD this was so amazing and so wholesome. This was like Yeh Jawaani Hai Dewaani in book form (also, one of my favourite movies of all time) In addition to the casual Jewish rep, Shira is the most relatable, most adorable protagonist because I too don't know what I'm doing with my life and I too come across as cold and aloof when I'm just drowning in anxiety and so afraid to speak my mind for the fear of being judged. I also loved how the author described the sights of Nantucket. I haven't even been there but it felt like I was transported; the descriptions really illustrated how much Shira loved the place. Now, for our love interest—Tyler Nelson. In one word: ADORABLE!! He was a nuanced, real character with flaws and insecurities and a refreshing take on the playboy trope. I loved that he got to talk about his own struggles and how catering to other people's needs and never sharing his own feelings took a toll on him. His romance with Shira honestly felt like a subplot. The real plot was finding people who supported and loved you always. Finding friends, in short. And I loved that message.
]]> One Hundred Years of Solitude 930693
Pipes and kettledrums herald the arrival of gypsies on their annual visit to Macondo, the newly founded village where José Arcadio Buendía and his strong-willed wife, Úrsula, have started their new life. As the mysterious Melquíades excites Aureliano Buendía and his father with new inventions and tales of adventure, neither can know the significance of the indecipherable manuscript that the old gypsy passes into their hands.

Through plagues of insomia, civil war, hauntings and vendettas, the many tribulations of the Buendía household push memories of the manuscript aside. Few remember its existence and only one will discover the hidden message that it holds...]]> 422 Gabriel García Márquez 014103243X Divvy 5 4.01 1967 One Hundred Years of Solitude
author: Gabriel García Márquez
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1967
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/10
date added: 2024/03/16
shelves: college-read, classics, poc-rep, magical-realism, thought-provoking, whimsical, political-commentary, fiction
review:

]]> Why Marx Was Right 35915437
"[Eagleton is] a witty, insightful thinker with a penchant for glib asides and wry dashes of humor. It’s probably the only book that makes references to Tiger Woods and Mel Gibson along with Charles Fourier and Michel Foucault."—Michael Patrick Brady, PopMatters

"Reading a book by Terry Eagleton is like watching fireworks."—Dennis O'Brien, Christian Century

In this combative, controversial book, Terry Eagleton takes issue with the prejudice that Marxism is dead and done with. Taking ten of the most common objections to Marxism—that it leads to political tyranny, that it reduces everything to the economic, that it is a form of historical determinism, and so on—he demonstrates in each case what a woeful travesty of Marx's own thought these assumptions are. In a world in which capitalism has been shaken to its roots by some major crises, Why Marx Was Right is as urgent and timely as it is brave and candid. Written with Eagleton's familiar wit, humor, and clarity, it will attract an audience far beyond the confines of academia.]]> 280 Terry Eagleton 0300231067 Divvy 0 to-read 3.86 2011 Why Marx Was Right
author: Terry Eagleton
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Tenant of Wildfell Hall 337113 The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is a powerful depiction of a woman's fight for domestic independence and creative freedom.]]> 576 Anne Brontë 0140434747 Divvy 0 to-read 4.00 1848 The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
author: Anne Brontë
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1848
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Moby-Dick 5974248 19 Herman Melville 1433257440 Divvy 4 3.25 1851 Moby-Dick
author: Herman Melville
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.25
book published: 1851
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/10
date added: 2024/03/10
shelves: classics, college-read, fiction, philosophical
review:

]]> Musée des Beaux Arts 16076427 W.H. Auden Divvy 5 3.80 1940 Musée des Beaux Arts
author: W.H. Auden
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.80
book published: 1940
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/04
date added: 2024/03/05
shelves: poetry, college-read, classics, thought-provoking, whimsical
review:

]]> "September 1, 1939" 21951736 W.H. Auden Divvy 5 4.02 "September 1, 1939"
author: W.H. Auden
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.02
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/05
date added: 2024/03/05
shelves: favorites, college-read, classics, poetry
review:
idc what auden said or did or changed in this; this is was such a beautiful poem.
]]> <![CDATA[Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night]]> 6619539 Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night is a villanelle considered to be among the finest works by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.]]> 1 Dylan Thomas Divvy 5 4.43 1951 Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
author: Dylan Thomas
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.43
book published: 1951
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/04
date added: 2024/03/05
shelves: college-read, classics, favorites, must-reads, this-made-me-cry-go-read-it
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth, #1)]]> 127305713
Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe � a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution � who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s The Crimson Moth is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch� is falling in love.]]> 406 Kristen Ciccarelli 1250866901 Divvy 4 Also this was more along the lines of lovers to enemies because their own personal hatred dissolved very quickly within the first 150 pages. Nonetheless, Rune was a lovely main character, very easy to root for (unlike some *side eyes Lou*), the mystery was engaging, and the narration was pretty good. I'm glad that periods are being normalized in books now. Still not sure though how to think about the persecuted/persecutor dynamics going on here, but it was handled with a lot more care than most white authors ever attempt.]]> 4.16 2024 Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth, #1)
author: Kristen Ciccarelli
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/05
date added: 2024/03/05
shelves: lovers-to-enemies, fantasy, fiction, fun
review:
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Also this was more along the lines of lovers to enemies because their own personal hatred dissolved very quickly within the first 150 pages. Nonetheless, Rune was a lovely main character, very easy to root for (unlike some *side eyes Lou*), the mystery was engaging, and the narration was pretty good. I'm glad that periods are being normalized in books now. Still not sure though how to think about the persecuted/persecutor dynamics going on here, but it was handled with a lot more care than most white authors ever attempt.
]]> <![CDATA[Things My Son Needs to Know About the World]]> 42833687 Things My Son Needs to Know About the World collects the personal dispatches from the front lines of one of the most daunting experiences any man can experience: fatherhood.

As he conveys his profound awe at experiencing all the "firsts" that fill him with wonder and catch him completely unprepared, Fredrik Backman doesn't shy away from revealing his own false steps and fatherly flaws, tackling issues both great and small, from masculinity and mid-life crises to practical jokes and poop.

In between the sleep-deprived lows and wonderful highs, Backman takes a step back to share the true story of falling in love with a woman who is his complete opposite, and learning to live a life that revolves around the people you care about unconditionally. Alternating between humorous side notes and longer essays offering his son advice as he grows up and ventures out into the world, Backman relays the big and small lessons in life, including:

-How to find the team you belong to
-Why airports explain everything about religion and war
-The reason starting a band is crucial to cultivating and keeping friendships
-How to beat Monkey Island 3
-Why, sometimes, a dad might hold onto his son's hand just a little too tight.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove shares an irresistible and moving collection of heartfelt, fictional, humorous essays about fatherhood, providing his newborn son with the perspective and tools he'll need to make his way in the world. ]]> 208 Fredrik Backman 1501196863 Divvy 0 to-read 4.00 2012 Things My Son Needs to Know About the World
author: Fredrik Backman
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/03/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> If This Is a Man � The Truce 6181 The Periodic Table and The Wrench, his delight in what made the world exquisite to him. He was himself a magically endearing man, the most delicately forceful enchanter I've ever known' - Philip Roth.]]> 398 Primo Levi 0349100136 Divvy 4 4.55 1987 If This Is a Man • The Truce
author: Primo Levi
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.55
book published: 1987
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/03
date added: 2024/03/04
shelves: college-read, holocaust-experience, trauma-narratives
review:

]]> A Streetcar Named Desire 12220 Death of a Salesman and The Crucible), and Williams� essay “The World I Live In.�

It is a very short list of 20th-century American plays that continue to have the same power and impact as when they first appeared�57 years after its Broadway premiere, Tennessee Williams� A Streetcar Named Desire is one of those plays. The story famously recounts how the faded and promiscuous Blanche DuBois is pushed over the edge by her sexy and brutal brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski. Streetcar launched the careers of Marlon Brando, Jessica Tandy, Kim Hunter, and Karl Malden, and solidified the position of Tennessee Williams as one of the most important young playwrights of his generation, as well as that of Elia Kazan as the greatest American stage director of the �40s and �50s.]]> 107 Tennessee Williams 0822210894 Divvy 5 3.98 1947 A Streetcar Named Desire
author: Tennessee Williams
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.98
book published: 1947
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/03
date added: 2024/03/04
shelves: to-read, classics, college-read, play
review:

]]> What Happens After Midnight 60197316
When Lily realizes the Jester is none other than Taggart Swell, her ex- boyfriend, she's already in too deep to back out. Lily might've dumped Tag, but she still has major feelings. Plus, his brilliant plan to steal the school's yearbooks, targets none other than Lilly's prom date: the Senior Class President, Daniel.

As the group of pranksters hide cryptic clues across campus for Daniel to find, Lily and Tag find themselves in close quarters. As the exes dodge Campus Safety guards, night owl teachers, a troop of freshmen, and even Daniel himself, new sparks fly. But old hurts and painful secrets refuse to be ignored. And with graduation on the horizon, Lily can only hope that breaking the rules will help mend her heart.]]> 384 K.L. Walther 1728263131 Divvy 3 3.73 2023 What Happens After Midnight
author: K.L. Walther
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/02/27
date added: 2024/02/27
shelves:
review:

]]> Annihilation of Caste 8521879
B.R. Ambedkar’s Annihilation of Caste is one of the most important, yet neglected, works of political writing from India. Written in 1936, it is an audacious denunciation of Hinduism and its caste system. Ambedkar � a figure like W.E.B. Du Bois � offers a scholarly critique of Hindu scriptures, scriptures that sanction a rigidly hierarchical and iniquitous social system. The world’s best-known Hindu, Mahatma Gandhi, responded publicly to the provocation. The hatchet was never buried.]]> 100 B.R. Ambedkar 8187190442 Divvy 5 4.61 1936 Annihilation of Caste
author: B.R. Ambedkar
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.61
book published: 1936
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/26
date added: 2024/02/26
shelves: dalit-feminism, dalit-literature, must-reads, favorites, essay, thought-provoking, socio-religious-commentary, indian-author, indian-history
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Accidental Death of an Anarchist]]> 72957 Accidental Death of an Anarchist, was seen by over half a million people. It has since been performed all over the world and is widely recognised as a classic of modern drama. A sharp and hilarious satire on political corruption, it concerns the case of an anarchist railway worker who, in 1969, 'fell' to his death from a police headquarters window.

This version of the play was premiered in London in 2003.

Commentary and notes by Joseph Farrell.

Content:

Dario Fo
Plot
Commentary
Further reading
Accidental death of an anarchist
Notes
Questions for further study.]]> 176 Dario Fo 0413772675 Divvy 0 to-read 4.11 1970 Accidental Death of an Anarchist
author: Dario Fo
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.11
book published: 1970
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/02/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Against the Madness of Manu: B.R. Ambedkar's Writings on Brahmanical Patriarchy]]> 18193180
While Ambedkar s original insights have been neglected by sociologists, political theorists and even feminists, they have been kept alive, celebrated and memorialised by Dalit musical troupes and booklets in Maharashtra. Sharmila Rege, in this compelling selection of Ambedkar s writings on the theme of Brahmanical patriarchy, illuminates for us his unprecedented sociological observations. Rege demonstrates how and why Ambedkar laid the base for what was, properly speaking, a feminist take on caste.]]> 266 B.R. Ambedkar 818905953X Divvy 5 4.40 Against the Madness of Manu: B.R. Ambedkar's Writings on Brahmanical Patriarchy
author: B.R. Ambedkar
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/25
date added: 2024/02/25
shelves: dalit-feminism, dalit-literature, indian-history, nonfiction, socio-religious-commentary, thought-provoking
review:

]]> The Hobbit 59733167 J.R.R. Tolkien 1705009042 Divvy 5 4.47 1937 The Hobbit
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.47
book published: 1937
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/23
date added: 2024/02/24
shelves: fantasy, college-read, classics, new-favourite, must-reads, adventure, british-literature, favorites, fiction, fun, funny, gloomy, heartfelt, whimsical, wack
review:

]]> Untouchable Spring 11422791
Through the stories of successive generations, we are taken on a journey to their heart from those who were exploited to those who discover their humanity through defiance. The reminiscences of Ruth take us to her husband Reuben's family in Yennela Dinni, to the boy Yellanna, his being chased away by his caste superiors , his music, his son Sivaiah's escape from the drought along with his wife, the latter's conversion to Christianity, the brutality against him and other Dalit Christians, the birth of Reuben when things seem to fall apart and he is later left in an orphanage, and then to Reuben's search for his roots.

This faithful translation from the Telugu, arousing pity for all that is pitiable and rage at what man has done to man, points to the growing awareness of people's rights and how they are driven to armed struggle.]]> 292 KALYAN RAO G 8125039457 Divvy 4 3.90 2010 Untouchable Spring
author: KALYAN RAO G
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/22
date added: 2024/02/22
shelves: dalit-literature, dalit-feminism, college-read, thought-provoking, socio-religious-commentary, political-commentary, poc-rep, must-reads
review:

]]> ASAP 112975158
Nathaniel is off limits—she knows this. A member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world and forbidden from dating, he isn’t any more of an option now than he was two years ago. Still, she can’t forget that their whirlwind romance was the last time she remembers being really happy. Or that his family welcomed her into their home when she needed it most...

So when Nathaniel finds himself rocked by scandal, Sori offers him a hideaway with her. And back in close quarters, it’s hard to deny their old feelings. But when Sori gets an opportunity to break free from her parent’s expectations, she will have to decide: Is her future worth sacrificing for a second chance at love?

New York Times bestselling author Axie Oh's ASAP is the much anticipated companion novel to beloved romance XOXO, following fan favorites Sori, the wealthy daughter of a K-pop company owner, and Nathaniel, her K-pop star ex-boyfriend, in a swoon-worthy second chance love story.]]> 343 Axie Oh 0063299305 Divvy 5 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 3.90 2024 ASAP
author: Axie Oh
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/16
date added: 2024/02/21
shelves: young-adult, second-chance-romance, romance, poc-rep, fun, funny, heartfelt, found-family, fiction, female-friendships, k-pop
review:
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
]]> Gulamgiri 30364023 Jyotirao Govindrao Phule Divvy 5 4.26 1873 Gulamgiri
author: Jyotirao Govindrao Phule
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.26
book published: 1873
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/19
date added: 2024/02/21
shelves:
review:

]]> Open It 55782973 Saadat Hasan Manto Divvy 5 4.10 Open It
author: Saadat Hasan Manto
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.10
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/14
date added: 2024/02/21
shelves: must-reads, magical-realism, partition-literature, short-story
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Palestine's Children: Returning to Haifa & Other Stories]]> 125252
In Palestine's Children, each story involves a child a child who is victimized by political events and circumstances, but who nevertheless participates in the struggle toward a better future. As in Kanafani's other fiction, these stories explore the need to recover the past the lost homeland by action. At the same time, written by a major talent, they have a universal appeal.
This edition includes the translators' contextual introduction and a short biography of the author.]]> 199 Ghassan Kanafani 0894108905 Divvy 0 to-read 4.43 1984 Palestine's Children: Returning to Haifa & Other Stories
author: Ghassan Kanafani
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.43
book published: 1984
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/02/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Kartography 290384
A love story with a family mystery at its heart, Kartography is a dazzling novel by a young writer of astonishing maturity and exhilarating style. Shamsie transports us to a world we have not often seen in fiction-vibrant, dangerous, sensuous Pakistan. But even as she takes us far from the familiar, her story of passion and family secrets rings universally true.]]> 305 Kamila Shamsie 0156029731 Divvy 4 3.89 Kartography
author: Kamila Shamsie
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.89
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/02/21
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Bronzed Beasts (The Gilded Wolves, #3)]]> 45681895 In love they breathed. In destiny they believed. In the end, will divinity be their demise?

After SĂ©verin's seeming betrayal, the crew is fractured. Armed with only a handful of hints, Enrique, Laila, Hypnos and Zofia must find their way through the snarled, haunted waterways of Venice, Italy to locate SĂ©verin.

Meanwhile, SĂ©verin must balance the deranged whims of the Patriarch of the Fallen House and discover the location of a temple beneath a plague island where the Divine Lyre can be played and all that he desires will come to pass.

With only ten days until Laila expires, the crew will face plague pits and deadly masquerades, unearthly songs and the shining steps of a temple whose powers might offer divinity itself... but at a price they may not be willing to pay.

Returning to the dark and glamorous 19th century world of her New York Times instant bestseller, The Gilded Wolves, Roshani Chokshi dazzles us with the final riveting tale as full of mystery and danger as ever.]]> 385 Roshani Chokshi 1250144604 Divvy 2 Here's a trend I've noticed about the Indian representation in fantasy: Leigh Bardugo wrote Inej Ghafa as a soulful, determined and quietly courageous young girl fighting against all odds to survive and be free of a world that demanded she be subjugated. It was awe-inspiring and empowering to see.
And well, The Gilded Wolves trilogy did the exact opposite with Laila.
I'll explain how in a minute. Firstly, the things I liked about the final book:
[spoilers removed]]]> 4.04 2021 The Bronzed Beasts (The Gilded Wolves, #3)
author: Roshani Chokshi
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2022/07/13
date added: 2024/02/15
shelves: authors-google-something-for-once, fantasy, historical-fiction, fiction, poc-rep, rep-that-is-the-bare-minimum
review:
To the people who are raving about the Indian representation in this book, please, I beg you. Stop. Listen to the South Asian reviewers who have honest criticism of this entire series. Being BIPOC is not a get-out-of-jail-card for authors and I'm so, so, so tired of seeing Indian authors residing outside the country perpetuate the same Orientalist stereotypes that have been propagated by the British and USA for so many years.
Here's a trend I've noticed about the Indian representation in fantasy: Leigh Bardugo wrote Inej Ghafa as a soulful, determined and quietly courageous young girl fighting against all odds to survive and be free of a world that demanded she be subjugated. It was awe-inspiring and empowering to see.
And well, The Gilded Wolves trilogy did the exact opposite with Laila.
I'll explain how in a minute. Firstly, the things I liked about the final book:
[spoilers removed]
]]> Lajwanti 59440261 Rajinder Singh Bedi Divvy 5 3.97 Lajwanti
author: Rajinder Singh Bedi
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.97
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/14
date added: 2024/02/14
shelves: partition-literature, trauma-narratives
review:

]]> I Hope This Doesn't Find You 124932739 I Hope This Doesn't Find You is Never Have I Ever meets To All the Boys if Lara Jean wrote hate emails instead of love letters.

Sadie Wen is perfect on paper: school captain, valedictorian, and a "pleasure to have in class." It’s not easy, but she has a trick to keep her model-student smile plastered on her face at all times: she channels all her frustrations into her email drafts. She'd never send them of course -- she'd rather die than hurt anyone's feelings -- but it's a relief to let loose on her power-hungry English teacher or a freeloading classmate taking credit for Sadie's work.

All her most vehemently worded emails are directed at her infuriating cocaptain, Julius Gong, whose arrogance and competitive streak have irked Sadie since they were kids. "You're attention starved and self-obsessed and unbearably vain . . . I really hope your comb breaks and you run out of whatever expensive hair products you've been using to make your hair appear deceptively soft..."

Sadie doesn't have to hold back in her emails, because nobody will ever read them... that is, until they're accidentally sent out.

Overnight, Sadie’s carefully crafted, conflict-free life is turned upside down. It's her worst nightmare -- now everyone at school knows what she really thinks of them, and they're not afraid to tell her what they really think of her either. But amidst the chaos, there's one person growing to appreciate the "real" Sadie -- Julius, the only boy she's sworn to hate...]]> 320 Ann Liang 1338827154 Divvy 4

RTC ]]> 4.17 2024 I Hope This Doesn't Find You
author: Ann Liang
name: Divvy
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/14
date added: 2024/02/14
shelves: poc-rep, rivals-to-lovers, thought-provoking, fun, funny, heartfelt
review:
I really loved the book (says a lot that I finished it within a day). I just have to sit with my thoughts for a minute and figure out the minor things that added up to the deduction of one star.


RTC
]]> Rules of the Game 14059878 Amy Tan Divvy 4 3.51 Rules of the Game
author: Amy Tan
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.51
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/14
date added: 2024/02/14
shelves: poc-rep, thought-provoking, short-story
review:

]]> Touch 7629587 Touch centers on a girl, the youngest of nine sisters in a Palestinian family. In the singular world of this novella, this young woman's everyday experiences resonate until they have become as weighty as any national tragedy. The smallest sensations compel, the events of history only lurk at the edges--the question of Palestine, the massacre at Sabra and Shatila. In a language that feels at once natural and alienated, Shibli breaks with the traditions of modern Arabic fiction, creating a work that has been and will continue to be hailed across literatures. Here every ordinary word, ordinary action is a small stone dropped into water: of inevitable consequence. We find ourselves mesmerized one quiet ripple at a time.]]> 72 Adania Shibli 1566568072 Divvy 4 3.77 2001 Touch
author: Adania Shibli
name: Divvy
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2001
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/14
date added: 2024/02/14
shelves: palestinian-author, thought-provoking, whimsical
review:

]]>