� jami �'s bookshelf: dnf en-US Fri, 06 Dec 2024 22:11:58 -0800 60 � jami �'s bookshelf: dnf 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Uncultured: A Memoir 59808316 In the vein of Educated and The Glass Castle, Daniella Mestyanek Young's Uncultured is more than a memoir about an exceptional upbringing, but about a woman who, no matter the lack of tools given to her, is determined to overcome.

Behind the tall, foreboding gates of a commune in Brazil, Daniella Mestyanek Young was raised in the religious cult The Children of God, also known as The Family, as the daughter of high-ranking members. Her great-grandmother donated land for one of The Family’s first communes in Texas. Her mother, at thirteen, was forced to marry the leader and served as his secretary for many years. Beholden to The Family’s strict rules, Daniella suffers physical, emotional, and sexual abuse�masked as godly discipline and divine love�and is forbidden from getting a traditional education.

At fifteen years old, fed up with The Family and determined to build a better and freer life for herself, Daniella escapes to Texas. There, she bravely enrolls herself in high school and excels, later graduating as valedictorian of her college class, then electing to join the military to begin a career as an intelligence officer, where she believes she will finally belong.

But she soon learns that her new world�surrounded by men on the sands of Afghanistan�looks remarkably similar to the one she desperately tried to leave behind.

Told in a beautiful, propulsive voice and with clear-eyed honesty, Uncultured explores the dangers unleashed when harmful group mentality goes unrecognized, and is emblematic of the many ways women have to contort themselves to survive.]]> 339 Daniella Mestyanek Young 1250280117 � jami � 0
didn't exactly dislike this I just feel like I got the gist of the point it was making and the second half following her experience in the army I just found to drag a bit and not as engaging.

Read for bookclub, this is probably not the kind of thing I would read of my own volition. ]]> 4.11 2022 Uncultured: A Memoir
author: Daniella Mestyanek Young
name: � jami �
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/06
date added: 2024/12/06
shelves: dnf, 2024-reads, adult, memoir, non-fiction
review:
dnf @ 82%

didn't exactly dislike this I just feel like I got the gist of the point it was making and the second half following her experience in the army I just found to drag a bit and not as engaging.

Read for bookclub, this is probably not the kind of thing I would read of my own volition.
]]> <![CDATA[Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone (Ernest Cunningham, #1)]]> 59799026
I'm Ernest Cunningham. Call me Ern or Ernie. I wish I'd killed whoever decided our family reunion should be at a ski resort, but it's a little more complicated than that.

Have I killed someone? Yes. I have.

Who was it?

Let's get started.

EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE

My brother

My stepsister

My wife

My father

My mother

My sister-in-law

My uncle

My stepfather

My aunt

Me]]> 384 Benjamin Stevenson 0143795651 � jami � 0 3.87 2022 Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone (Ernest Cunningham, #1)
author: Benjamin Stevenson
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/20
date added: 2024/07/20
shelves: dnf, 2024-reads, australian, mystery
review:
dnf - hated the narration style
]]> All's Well 61926860 The tragicomic novel of the summer, a ‘dark and insane gem� from the author of the critically acclaimed TikTok sensation Bunny ‘A dazzling wild ride of a novel � daring, fresh, entertaining, and magical.� � George Saunders ‘All's Well is an utterly delicious novel of pain and vitality, Shakespeare and the uncanny.� � Lauren Groff Miranda Fitch’s life is a waking nightmare. The accident that ended her burgeoning acting career left her with excruciating, chronic back pain, a failed marriage, and a deepening dependence on painkillers. And now she’s on the verge of losing her job as a college theater director. Determined to put on Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well, the play that promised, and cost, her everything, she faces a mutinous cast hellbent on staging Macbeth instead. Miranda sees her chance at redemption slip through her fingers. That’s when she meets three strange benefactors who have an eerie knowledge of Miranda’s past and a tantalizing promise for her one where the show goes on, her rebellious students get what’s coming to them, and the invisible, doubted pain that’s kept her from the spotlight is made known.With prose Margaret Atwood has described as ‘no punches pulled, no hilarities dodged... genius�, Mona Awad has concocted her most potent, subversive novel yet. All’s Well is the story of a woman at her breaking point and a formidable, piercingly funny indictment of our collective refusal to witness and believe female pain. Longlisted for the 2023 Dublin Literary Award.]]> 368 Mona Awad 1398504920 � jami � 0 dnf 3.87 2021 All's Well
author: Mona Awad
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/14
date added: 2024/07/14
shelves: dnf
review:
dnf - have been reading for weeks and just can't get into it
]]> Bruny 46194329
A right-wing US president has withdrawn America from the Middle East and the UN. Daesh has a thoroughfare to the sea and China is Australia's newest ally. When a bomb goes off in remote Tasmania, Astrid Coleman agrees to return home to help her brother before an upcoming election. But this is no simple task. Her brother and sister are on either side of politics, the community is full of conspiracy theories, and her father is quoting Shakespeare. Only on Bruny does the world seem sane.

Until Astrid discovers how far the government is willing to go.

Bruny is a searing, subversive, brilliant novel about family, love, loyalty and the new world order.]]> 424 Heather Rose 1760875163 � jami � 0
I'm sick of reading dumb books I'm inevitably going to rate 1-2 stars and this is a dumb book I was inevitably going to rate 1-2 stars!

the author thinks it's satire and that it's very clever you can just tell, but it's just not! yellow peril racism masquerading as a plot - I also looked up the ending and [spoilers removed]

anyways I can only describe this as 'white australian boomer lit' core]]> 3.77 Bruny
author: Heather Rose
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.77
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/11
date added: 2024/01/11
shelves: dnf, 2024-reads, adult, australian
review:
dnf @ page 161

I'm sick of reading dumb books I'm inevitably going to rate 1-2 stars and this is a dumb book I was inevitably going to rate 1-2 stars!

the author thinks it's satire and that it's very clever you can just tell, but it's just not! yellow peril racism masquerading as a plot - I also looked up the ending and [spoilers removed]

anyways I can only describe this as 'white australian boomer lit' core
]]> A Criminal Magic 25785807
It's 1926 in Washington, DC, and while Anti-Sorcery activists have achieved the Prohibition of sorcery, the city's magic underworld is booming. Sorcerers cast illusions to aid mobsters' crime sprees. Smugglers funnel magic contraband in from overseas. Gangs have established secret performance venues where patrons can lose themselves in magic, and take a mind-bending, intoxicating elixir known as the sorcerer's shine.

Joan Kendrick, a young sorcerer from Norfolk County, Virginia accepts an offer to work for DC's most notorious crime syndicate, the Shaw Gang, when her family's home is repossessed. Alex Danfrey, a first-year Federal Prohibition Unit trainee with a complicated past and talents of his own, becomes tapped to go undercover and infiltrate the Shaws.

Through different paths, Joan and Alex tread deep into the violent, dangerous world of criminal magic - and when their paths cross at the Shaws' performance venue, despite their orders, and despite themselves, Joan and Alex become enchanted with one another. But when gang alliances begin to shift, the two sorcerers are forced to question their ultimate allegiances and motivations. And soon, Joan and Alex find themselves pitted against each other in a treacherous, heady game of cat-and-mouse.]]> 422 Lee Kelly 1481410334 � jami � 0 3.49 2016 A Criminal Magic
author: Lee Kelly
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.49
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at: 2023/01/24
date added: 2023/01/24
shelves: historical-fiction, perhaps, random-choice-tbr, dnf, fantasy, young-adult
review:
dnf. sometimes a book has a 3 star gr rating for a reason
]]> The Wolf and the Woodsman 48915408
But when monsters attack the Woodsmen and their captive en route, slaughtering everyone but Évike and the cold, one-eyed captain, they have no choice but to rely on each other. Except he’s no ordinary Woodsman—he’s the disgraced prince, Gáspár Bárány, whose father needs pagan magic to consolidate his power. Gáspár fears that his cruelly zealous brother plans to seize the throne and instigate a violent reign that would damn the pagans and the Yehuli alike. As the son of a reviled foreign queen, Gáspár understands what it’s like to be an outcast, and he and Évike make a tenuous pact to stop his brother.

As their mission takes them from the bitter northern tundra to the smog-choked capital, their mutual loathing slowly turns to affection, bound by a shared history of alienation and oppression. However, trust can easily turn to betrayal, and as Évike reconnects with her estranged father and discovers her own hidden magic, she and Gáspár need to decide whose side they’re on, and what they’re willing to give up for a nation that never cared for them at all.

In the vein of Naomi Novik’s New York Times bestseller Spinning Silver and Katherine Arden’s national bestseller The Bear and the Nightingale, this unforgettable debut� inspired by Hungarian history and Jewish mythology—follows a young pagan woman with hidden powers and a one-eyed captain of the Woodsmen as they form an unlikely alliance to thwart a tyrant.]]> 448 Ava Reid 1529100739 � jami � 0 3.51 2021 The Wolf and the Woodsman
author: Ava Reid
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at: 2022/05/22
date added: 2022/05/22
shelves: 2022-reads, adult, dnf, fantasy, owned-books
review:
dnf @ 42%. Didn't like the writing style, and just didn't care about the characters or story. Maybe will come back to it at some point but not into it right now
]]> Kokomo 52334565 'genuinely funny and heartbreaking' - VPLA judges

When Mina receives an urgent call from her best friend back in Melbourne, her world is turned upside down. Her agoraphobic mother, Elaine, has left the house for the first time in twelve years. Mina drops everything to fly home, only to discover that Elaine will not talk about her sudden return to the world, nor why she's spent so much time hiding from it. Their reunion leaves Mina raking through pieces of their painful past in a bid to uncover the truth.

Both tender and fierce, heartbreaking and funny, Kokomo is a story about how secrets and love have the power to bring us together and tear us apart.

]]> 235 Victoria Hannan 0733643337 � jami � 0 3.55 2020 Kokomo
author: Victoria Hannan
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at: 2021/05/18
date added: 2021/05/18
shelves: 2021-reads, adult, australian, audiobook, contemporary, favourite-covers, fiction, literary, dnf
review:
dnf @ 78%. bruh if I have to hear this girl describe her shitty coworkers dick one more time......... anyways I was enjoying it at the start and then it took some turns and I just stopped caring so
]]> <![CDATA[The Lost World of British Communism]]> 52680 244 Raphael Samuel 1844671038 � jami � 0 dnf, 2020-reads, non-fiction 3.97 2006 The Lost World of British Communism
author: Raphael Samuel
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at: 2020/10/01
date added: 2020/10/01
shelves: dnf, 2020-reads, non-fiction
review:
dnf @ part two: this isn't really what I was expecting it to be / looking for when I picked it up (was looking for something a bit more historical/essay based and less disjointed memoir).. so..... dnf
]]> Maybe in Another Life 23492661
From the acclaimed author of Forever, Interrupted and After I Do comes a breathtaking new novel about a young woman whose fate hinges on the choice she makes after bumping into an old flame; in alternating chapters, we see two possible scenarios unfold—with stunningly different results.

At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?

Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.]]> 342 Taylor Jenkins Reid � jami � 0 3.77 2015 Maybe in Another Life
author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at: 2020/01/01
date added: 2020/03/22
shelves: 2020-reads, audiobook, adult, contemporary, romance, dnf
review:
dnf @ 26%. Look when I listen to this it’s okay but then when I’m not listening to it every thought about it flies out my head and I just don’t care so. DNF because I don’t care enough
]]> <![CDATA[The Ruin of Kings (A Chorus of Dragons, #1)]]> 42268612
Kihrin grew up on tales of long-lost princes and grand quests - despite being raised in a brothel, making money as a musician and street thief. One day he overreaches by targeting an absent noble's mansion, hunting for jewels. There he witnesses a prince performing a terrifying dark-magic ritual. Kihrin flees but he's marked by a demon and his life will never be the same again.

That night also leads to him being claimed as a lost son of that prince's royal house. But far from living the dream, Kihrin finds himself practically a prisoner, at the mercy of his new family's power plays and ambitions. He must also discover why his murderous father finds Kihrin more valuable alive than dead. Soon Kihrin attempts to escape his relative's dangerous schemes, but finds himself in far deeper waters.

He becomes tangled in a plot to kill the Emperor, rob the Imperial Vaults, claim a god-slaying sword and free bound demons to wreak havoc across the land. Kihrin also discovers the old tales lied about many things: dragons, demons, gods, prophecies, true love - and the hero always winning. But maybe Kihrin isn't fated to save the empire. He's destined to destroy it.]]> 705 Jenn Lyons 1509879498 � jami � 0 fantasy, dnf, 2019-reads
I honestly can't believe I'm dnf'ing this because it should've been right up my alley but I just can't get into it. I've tried physical and audio and its not happening. I really dislike the framed narration of the story and the dual timelines, and the inclusion of footnotes. I also don't like the main narrator's voice? They're supposed to be that quirky quippy character but because I don't find them that funny it doesn't really work for me

If this book was shorter I might have pushed through but I don't want to read 500+ more pages. That said I wouldn't NOT recommend this. If you like books with dual timelines, footnotes, a quippy main character and a strong twist on the chosen one trope you might like this. It just isn't for me ]]> 4.00 2019 The Ruin of Kings (A Chorus of Dragons, #1)
author: Jenn Lyons
name: � jami �
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at: 2019/11/05
date added: 2019/11/05
shelves: fantasy, dnf, 2019-reads
review:
DNF @ page 200

I honestly can't believe I'm dnf'ing this because it should've been right up my alley but I just can't get into it. I've tried physical and audio and its not happening. I really dislike the framed narration of the story and the dual timelines, and the inclusion of footnotes. I also don't like the main narrator's voice? They're supposed to be that quirky quippy character but because I don't find them that funny it doesn't really work for me

If this book was shorter I might have pushed through but I don't want to read 500+ more pages. That said I wouldn't NOT recommend this. If you like books with dual timelines, footnotes, a quippy main character and a strong twist on the chosen one trope you might like this. It just isn't for me
]]> <![CDATA[Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living]]> 24540111 288 Carrie Tiffany 1743349068 � jami � 0
that aside, I just found this too boring to finish? Or maybe I'm just not smart enough to appreciate it. Who knows?!?

onto the next thing]]> 3.91 2005 Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living
author: Carrie Tiffany
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at: 2019/10/15
date added: 2019/10/15
shelves: dnf, 2019-reads, adult, australian, action, historical-fiction, read-for-school, owned-books
review:
was rated as having one of the worst sex scenes in a book, ever. I can confirm it was pretty nasty tho not the worst I've ever read. However, I did spend a large portion of the book after the scene thinking about how bad the MC's yeast infection must be

that aside, I just found this too boring to finish? Or maybe I'm just not smart enough to appreciate it. Who knows?!?

onto the next thing
]]> Boy Meets Boy 23228
When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.

This is a happy-meaningful romantic comedy about finding love, losing love, and doing what it takes to get love back in a crazy-wonderful world.]]> 185 David Levithan 0375832998 � jami � 0
I might go back and finish this but I really am not liking the audiobook so I can't finish it via that method right now. I like the concept of this book but I'm not sure about it right now, but its short so I might save it for a readathon or something and read it in physical format]]> 3.82 2003 Boy Meets Boy
author: David Levithan
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2003
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2019/06/28
shelves: young-adult, lgbtqiap, romance, contemporary, dnf, 2019-reads, audiobook, gay-mc, m-m, readathon-material
review:
dnf @ 20% for now

I might go back and finish this but I really am not liking the audiobook so I can't finish it via that method right now. I like the concept of this book but I'm not sure about it right now, but its short so I might save it for a readathon or something and read it in physical format
]]> The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock 37678008
As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr Hancock’s marvel. Its arrival spins him out of his ordinary existence and through the doors of high society, where he meets Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on... and a courtesan of great accomplishment. This meeting will steer both their lives onto a dangerous new course.

What will be the cost of their ambitions? And will they be able to escape the legendary destructive power a mermaid is said to possess?]]> 487 Imogen Hermes Gowar � jami � 0 dnf
I just wasn't vibing with this. It has nice writing but I haven't connected to any of the characters yet and I thought the plot would be more exciting then it is. Also I read this review and just ain't looking forward to All That either.

If I do continue this it'll probably be when I can read the physical BUT idk if I will since at this point I only felt like reading it because "it was on my TBR so I should" and I'm trying to Stop Doing That !!]]> 3.46 2018 The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock
author: Imogen Hermes Gowar
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2018/11/19
shelves: dnf
review:
I know I'm the worlds biggest goodreads fraud because sometimes I get 18% into a book and then mark it as dnf even though I hadn't actually got around to marking it as "currently reading" yet but oh well

I just wasn't vibing with this. It has nice writing but I haven't connected to any of the characters yet and I thought the plot would be more exciting then it is. Also I read this review and just ain't looking forward to All That either.

If I do continue this it'll probably be when I can read the physical BUT idk if I will since at this point I only felt like reading it because "it was on my TBR so I should" and I'm trying to Stop Doing That !!
]]> <![CDATA[Forest of a Thousand Lanterns (Rise of the Empress, #1)]]> 33958230 An East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl's quest to become Empress—and the darkness she must unleash to achieve her destiny.

Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her. Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high?

Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins—sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.]]> 363 Julie C. Dao 1524738298 � jami � 0 young-adult, dnf, fantasy dnf @ 30%

I'm really not getting into this. The writing style or characters just aren't drawing me in at all and I'm at page 150 and feel like nothing has happened. I decided to read the last page too see what was happening and nothing really intrigued me to want to read this. Plus feels a waste of time to read a book I know I probably won't rate very high. I don't think this book is bad it's just not working for me]]> 3.70 2017 Forest of a Thousand Lanterns (Rise of the Empress, #1)
author: Julie C. Dao
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2018/09/21
shelves: young-adult, dnf, fantasy
review:
dnf @ 30%

I'm really not getting into this. The writing style or characters just aren't drawing me in at all and I'm at page 150 and feel like nothing has happened. I decided to read the last page too see what was happening and nothing really intrigued me to want to read this. Plus feels a waste of time to read a book I know I probably won't rate very high. I don't think this book is bad it's just not working for me
]]> Feel Me Fall 35052426
Emily Duran is the sole survivor of a plane crash that left her and her teenage friends stranded and alone in the jungles of the Amazon. Lost and losing hope, they struggle against the elements, and each other. With their familiar pecking order no longer in place, a new order emerges, filled with power struggles, betrayals, secrets and lies. Emily must explain why she's the last left alive.

But can she carry the burden of the past?

Discover the gripping novel that explores who we are when no one is watching, and how far we'll go in order to survive.]]> 233 James Morris � jami � 0 dnf, 2018-reads, young-adult dnf at chapter 5 (15%)



I told myself I'm not forcing myself to read stuff in 2018 and yeah ..

why I dnf'ed this:

- mostly because a student/teacher relationship which is romanticised because its ~~forbidden love~~ urgh. stop gross. none of that

but also because there's already been so much problematic stuff at ch5
- black person described as having "skin the colour of a rich walnut"
- an "I feel soo much pity for the fat girl :((( poor fat girl" paragraph (stop) but also the fat girl is the evil mean character bc of course she is [spoilers removed]
- lesbophobia
- ableist & homophobic slurs casually thrown around
- rape jokes
- this whole line "I told myself we weren't running from a plane crash; we were running from an Indian tribe who would feed us, save us, and maybe offer is an ancient gold relic with magical powers"
- the mc goes to an elite, private boarding school but thinks she's not privileged because she owns a shitty car and has a part time job jfhkfjsghkf

I don't want to force myself to read this whole thing just to give it a shitty, 1 star review so just gonna dnf it now

I was sent this book by the author, but all opinions are my own]]> 4.14 2017 Feel Me Fall
author: James Morris
name: � jami �
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2018/03/13
shelves: dnf, 2018-reads, young-adult
review:
dnf at chapter 5 (15%)



I told myself I'm not forcing myself to read stuff in 2018 and yeah ..

why I dnf'ed this:

- mostly because a student/teacher relationship which is romanticised because its ~~forbidden love~~ urgh. stop gross. none of that

but also because there's already been so much problematic stuff at ch5
- black person described as having "skin the colour of a rich walnut"
- an "I feel soo much pity for the fat girl :((( poor fat girl" paragraph (stop) but also the fat girl is the evil mean character bc of course she is [spoilers removed]
- lesbophobia
- ableist & homophobic slurs casually thrown around
- rape jokes
- this whole line "I told myself we weren't running from a plane crash; we were running from an Indian tribe who would feed us, save us, and maybe offer is an ancient gold relic with magical powers"
- the mc goes to an elite, private boarding school but thinks she's not privileged because she owns a shitty car and has a part time job jfhkfjsghkf

I don't want to force myself to read this whole thing just to give it a shitty, 1 star review so just gonna dnf it now

I was sent this book by the author, but all opinions are my own
]]> Mine 35212668 A.N. Senerella � jami � 0 dnf
WHAT IS THIS MESS
Basically, what's happened so far is that a girl is interrupted by some rando new boy at her school who instantly it's like "I'm gonna date you, I'm gonna make you mine" which is fucking creepy and then he stalks her and waits at her car and literally threatens to kill her boyfriend what the fuck this is a guy she literally met that day

so the girl doesn't have a boyfriend but her best friend is a guy and she is actually scared this boy will kill him so she gives a fake name as her "boyfriend" and begins fake dating him idk what happens after that thats where I got to

I had to stop because ALL THE MESS ALREADY

for example: the mc hugs her friend Mitchell and the "new guy" says this to her

"is her a friend of yours? or are you two dating? either way, if I see him put his hands on you in any way again I'll break off his arms"

BITCH LITERALLY WHAT THE FUCK

and if that wasn't weird enough he TEXTS this to her from across the room because he's watching her and also he got her number without her permission wtf

anyway she then basically is kinda chill with it and takes it as a joke and he's like "no seriously. do. not. touch. him. again. ... you're meant to be listening to me."

she eventually calls him out for stalking her and being generally creepy and he's like "uh wow you're a bit hostile" UM OFC SHE IS BITCH WHAT THE FUCK

Anyway, I think this is one of those "oh but I knew you in a past life" or something things BUT I DON'T CARE TO FIND OUT

im done this is !!!!! not what I want to spend my precious time doing aaaaah

especially now I found out from other reviews this book also contains "many dark elements including stalking, several massive invasions of privacy, violence, domestic assault, and drugs."

wow things I dont need in my life: that !

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my review]]> 2.78 Mine
author: A.N. Senerella
name: � jami �
average rating: 2.78
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2018/02/04
shelves: dnf
review:
well. I got to chapter three (of 33) and the actual thought of continuing this book is too much for me I have to dnf it now I can't read a page more

WHAT IS THIS MESS
Basically, what's happened so far is that a girl is interrupted by some rando new boy at her school who instantly it's like "I'm gonna date you, I'm gonna make you mine" which is fucking creepy and then he stalks her and waits at her car and literally threatens to kill her boyfriend what the fuck this is a guy she literally met that day

so the girl doesn't have a boyfriend but her best friend is a guy and she is actually scared this boy will kill him so she gives a fake name as her "boyfriend" and begins fake dating him idk what happens after that thats where I got to

I had to stop because ALL THE MESS ALREADY

for example: the mc hugs her friend Mitchell and the "new guy" says this to her

"is her a friend of yours? or are you two dating? either way, if I see him put his hands on you in any way again I'll break off his arms"

BITCH LITERALLY WHAT THE FUCK

and if that wasn't weird enough he TEXTS this to her from across the room because he's watching her and also he got her number without her permission wtf

anyway she then basically is kinda chill with it and takes it as a joke and he's like "no seriously. do. not. touch. him. again. ... you're meant to be listening to me."

she eventually calls him out for stalking her and being generally creepy and he's like "uh wow you're a bit hostile" UM OFC SHE IS BITCH WHAT THE FUCK

Anyway, I think this is one of those "oh but I knew you in a past life" or something things BUT I DON'T CARE TO FIND OUT

im done this is !!!!! not what I want to spend my precious time doing aaaaah

especially now I found out from other reviews this book also contains "many dark elements including stalking, several massive invasions of privacy, violence, domestic assault, and drugs."

wow things I dont need in my life: that !

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my review
]]> <![CDATA[Ninefox Gambit (The Machineries of Empire, #1)]]> 26118426 Ninefox Gambit, centers on disgraced captain Kel Cheris, who must recapture the formidable Fortress of Scattered Needles in order to redeem herself in front of the Hexarchate.

To win an impossible war Captain Kel Cheris must awaken an ancient weapon and a despised traitor general.

Captain Kel Cheris of the hexarchate is disgraced for using unconventional methods in a battle against heretics. Kel Command gives her the opportunity to redeem herself by retaking the Fortress of Scattered Needles, a star fortress that has recently been captured by heretics. Cheris’s career isn’t the only thing at stake. If the fortress falls, the hexarchate itself might be next.

Cheris’s best hope is to ally with the undead tactician Shuos Jedao. The good news is that Jedao has never lost a battle, and he may be the only one who can figure out how to successfully besiege the fortress.

The bad news is that Jedao went mad in his first life and massacred two armies, one of them his own. As the siege wears on, Cheris must decide how far she can trust Jedao–because she might be his next victim.]]> 384 Yoon Ha Lee � jami � 0
I just .... really don't like the writing style. May come back to idk]]> 3.76 2016 Ninefox Gambit (The Machineries of Empire, #1)
author: Yoon Ha Lee
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/11/16
shelves: dnf, 2017-reads, science-fiction
review:
dnf @ 11%

I just .... really don't like the writing style. May come back to idk
]]> Crow Moon (Crow Moon, #1) 23567756
Just as his community is being threatened by gangs intent on finding a lucrative power source to sell to the world, Danny discovers he is stunningly powerful. And when he falls for Saba, a gorgeous but capricious girl sorceress, he thinks maybe the witch thing might not be such a bad idea...

But what cost will Danny pay as, with his community on the brink of war, he finds that love and sorcery are more dangerous than he ever imagined?

Wickedness and passion combine in this coming-of-age adventure.]]> 384 Anna McKerrow 1848669577 � jami � 1 DNF @ 60%. I couldn't do it anymore. I just couldn't

STRAP IN Y'ALL. YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE A DRAG.

This book is a reminder to everyone:
1: not trust the popular goodreads reviews for books
2: not judge a book by its cover

I'm not gonna lie, I had hope for this book going in. It was a great cover (sorry I can't help it covers matter to me a bit), the premise sounded interesting, it had male witches and I'd seem some really good reviews on it.

But I hate it

Like I truly actually had a strong desire to hurl this book at a wall MULTIPLE TIMES

I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE GIVE THIS 5*.
(Like I usually never ever judge people's ratings)
BUT THERE IS SO MUCH CHEATING !! SO MUCH !! where is your MORALS y'all

anyway. *breathes in, breathes out*


I'm just gonna break things down in a simple dot to dot format.

THINGS I DID NOT COMPLETELY HATE (this will be short lmao)


� The setting. It's set in a future semi-dystopian world in which the fossil fuels have expired. Thus, the world has split into two groups. Those living in the green world (self sufficient green communities) who live by Celtic/Wiccan tradition and have a "witch" as a head of the community. And the Redworld, people who (I think?) just run around fighting eachother over the last resources available and refuse to join the Greenworld (the Redworld isn't explained that well I am a bit confused about it)


� The diversity. The protagonist and his sister are biracial. I liked how there was some discussion of how race influences how we move within society and how it effects the spaces we occupy


� Melz for her MASSIVE DRAG of Saba at the end which was so deserved I was breathless (I skipped to the end of the book just to see if she gets served and she DID)


WHY I HATE THIS (I'm sorry but I actually do hate it smh)

� CHARACTERS. Start with the protag, Danny. He was so sleazy I was actually uncomfortable. The way he talked about the girls was just ew and his lines were so cringeworthy I mean check this out

"...but I rub her kiss into my cheek like a salve anyway. A salve for horniness. Rub in twice a day to the afflicted area for the best effect. My cheek isn't the afflicted area."




LIKE. I CRINGED SO MUCH. (she only kissed u on the cheek chill) Anyway, Danny is literally a text book fuckboi. He insists he's the "nice guy", tells his love interest she's the "one for him" and tells her that she doesn't like her actual BOYFRIEND as much as she likes him ... but then .... proceeds to sleep with other girls and ???? I hate him, like I actually hate him so much. I honestly wanted to reach within the book and kick his ass because he was being sO ANNOYING AND ENTITLED
Oh, and also he's salty that female witches run the village evEN THOUGH THE REASON IS BC THE MOST POWERFUL WITCHES RUN THE VILLAGES AND THEY /HAPPEN/ TO BE FEMALE sm hhhh

The only element of his character was his obsession with girls. He didn't HAVE any other traits. He was just a poorly written characters.


� While we're on characters. Saba. Fuckin Saba. She soooo beautiful, soooo perfect. The MOST POWERFUL witch, so funny, a "good girl", reads alot, doesn't drink because it "disagrees with her", can do what she wants, loved by all, DOES SOME WEIRD VIRGIN RITUAL EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS.
Anyway, she's a mary sue. She is. Her flaw is her cheating, and her sister calls her selfish literally on the last page BUT THATS NOT ENOUGH. Give me characters !! with !! flaws !!
Let them grow !!!!
I CANNOT RELATE TO PERFECT ETHERAL MANIC PIXIE DREAM GIRLSSS

� the cheating.. oh god it makes me so angry. EVERYONE was cheating on everyone. Within days of meeting Danny Saba kisses him even though she has a (long term) boyfriend. Saba won't break up with her boyfriend because it'll "break his heart" but keeps seeing & sleeping with Danny
Danny tells Saba he's "Nicer" then her boyfriend, and that he's "a good guy" and that Saba doesn't love her boyfriend like he loves Danny (PLS she's known him for years and u for like a week chill tf out)
Meanwhile, Danny is literally still sleeping with other girls even though he's telling Saba its all her
like ..... I cannot condone the cheating. And I feel bad because Saba's actual bf did no wrong and he's actually a nice chara.
Cheating on your partner is NEVER okay. I hate these plots where there's no communication. I LITERALLY DO NOT CARE HOW MUCH IT'S GONNE HURT, IF YOU'VE MOVED ON FROM SOMEONE OR FALLEN OUT OF LOVE WITH THEM YOU BREAK IT OFF BEFORE YOU GET WITH OTHER PEOPLE
its literally common decency I HATE CHEATING SO MUCH STOP NORMALISING AND ROMANTICISING CHEATING IT IS NOT OKAY
((oh, and also Danny's mum is cheating on his dad so I guess the apple don't fall far from the tree))

� The setting. I know I said I liked it, and I do but also it's confusing. I'm unsure of what the redworld is exactly, and also I'm not sure it's realistic. Sure, fossil fuels can/will run out, but it's not like its the "only" power source. Solar panels? Wind power?. The book set up the world is desolate, but many places could actually function to some degree off of renewable energy (my sister tells me anyway, she has a degree in this) ALSO, it was so random there was a war for fuel in RUSSIA... it seems more likely it'd be in an oil hotspot, like the Middle East or gulf of Mexico, or even America.

� There were too many ideas that didn't connect up well. The greenworld/redworld + the witches + the threat of the gangs + Roach (the evil witch antagonist) + having to keep all the portals safe + the internal conflict with the witches + the mistrust of the witches from the villagers + Linda and Sadie side plot + THE WEIRD VIRGIN RITUAL (cannot get over it it was so weird)
Anyway, it felt like the books jumped from idea to idea and they didn't actually connect. I didn't know how they all related, and I didn't know what the main overarching complication was. There was too much all messed together.

� I just didn't like the prose. This is more of a personal point, and I'm sure some people will find it fine but it was very full of describing mundane things. Like "Danny dressed in a blue shirt and jeans, and went into the kitchen. He sat at a chair, and made some tea with three teaspoons of sugar. Outside it was sunny, and there were birds chirping"
Like it was just alot of reading, for not much actually happening. This book felt WAY too long, and I didn't even get to page 300.

� How the villain was salty women were in charge PLS. His calling card was literally "Join the gangs. Betray your family. we have boys"

� Nah fuck the virgin ritual needs its own dot point. I can't believe I had to read a virgin ritual with my own two eyes


URRRGHH. Disappointed because I WAS ready to like this !! I was !! And I tried really hard to finish it. But I just cannot. I cannot endure another page of Danny whining and Saba being perfect, and cheating, and it was just a messs and aarrgh

Do not really recommend TBH

]]> 3.43 2015 Crow Moon (Crow Moon, #1)
author: Anna McKerrow
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2015
rating: 1
read at: 2016/11/12
date added: 2017/11/16
shelves: 2016-reads, dnf, dystopian, fantasy, favourite-covers, young-adult, paranormal
review:
DNF @ 60%. I couldn't do it anymore. I just couldn't


STRAP IN Y'ALL. YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE A DRAG.

This book is a reminder to everyone:
1: not trust the popular goodreads reviews for books
2: not judge a book by its cover

I'm not gonna lie, I had hope for this book going in. It was a great cover (sorry I can't help it covers matter to me a bit), the premise sounded interesting, it had male witches and I'd seem some really good reviews on it.

But I hate it

Like I truly actually had a strong desire to hurl this book at a wall MULTIPLE TIMES

I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE GIVE THIS 5*.
(Like I usually never ever judge people's ratings)
BUT THERE IS SO MUCH CHEATING !! SO MUCH !! where is your MORALS y'all

anyway. *breathes in, breathes out*


I'm just gonna break things down in a simple dot to dot format.

THINGS I DID NOT COMPLETELY HATE (this will be short lmao)


� The setting. It's set in a future semi-dystopian world in which the fossil fuels have expired. Thus, the world has split into two groups. Those living in the green world (self sufficient green communities) who live by Celtic/Wiccan tradition and have a "witch" as a head of the community. And the Redworld, people who (I think?) just run around fighting eachother over the last resources available and refuse to join the Greenworld (the Redworld isn't explained that well I am a bit confused about it)


� The diversity. The protagonist and his sister are biracial. I liked how there was some discussion of how race influences how we move within society and how it effects the spaces we occupy


� Melz for her MASSIVE DRAG of Saba at the end which was so deserved I was breathless (I skipped to the end of the book just to see if she gets served and she DID)


WHY I HATE THIS (I'm sorry but I actually do hate it smh)

� CHARACTERS. Start with the protag, Danny. He was so sleazy I was actually uncomfortable. The way he talked about the girls was just ew and his lines were so cringeworthy I mean check this out

"...but I rub her kiss into my cheek like a salve anyway. A salve for horniness. Rub in twice a day to the afflicted area for the best effect. My cheek isn't the afflicted area."




LIKE. I CRINGED SO MUCH. (she only kissed u on the cheek chill) Anyway, Danny is literally a text book fuckboi. He insists he's the "nice guy", tells his love interest she's the "one for him" and tells her that she doesn't like her actual BOYFRIEND as much as she likes him ... but then .... proceeds to sleep with other girls and ???? I hate him, like I actually hate him so much. I honestly wanted to reach within the book and kick his ass because he was being sO ANNOYING AND ENTITLED
Oh, and also he's salty that female witches run the village evEN THOUGH THE REASON IS BC THE MOST POWERFUL WITCHES RUN THE VILLAGES AND THEY /HAPPEN/ TO BE FEMALE sm hhhh

The only element of his character was his obsession with girls. He didn't HAVE any other traits. He was just a poorly written characters.


� While we're on characters. Saba. Fuckin Saba. She soooo beautiful, soooo perfect. The MOST POWERFUL witch, so funny, a "good girl", reads alot, doesn't drink because it "disagrees with her", can do what she wants, loved by all, DOES SOME WEIRD VIRGIN RITUAL EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS.
Anyway, she's a mary sue. She is. Her flaw is her cheating, and her sister calls her selfish literally on the last page BUT THATS NOT ENOUGH. Give me characters !! with !! flaws !!
Let them grow !!!!
I CANNOT RELATE TO PERFECT ETHERAL MANIC PIXIE DREAM GIRLSSS

� the cheating.. oh god it makes me so angry. EVERYONE was cheating on everyone. Within days of meeting Danny Saba kisses him even though she has a (long term) boyfriend. Saba won't break up with her boyfriend because it'll "break his heart" but keeps seeing & sleeping with Danny
Danny tells Saba he's "Nicer" then her boyfriend, and that he's "a good guy" and that Saba doesn't love her boyfriend like he loves Danny (PLS she's known him for years and u for like a week chill tf out)
Meanwhile, Danny is literally still sleeping with other girls even though he's telling Saba its all her
like ..... I cannot condone the cheating. And I feel bad because Saba's actual bf did no wrong and he's actually a nice chara.
Cheating on your partner is NEVER okay. I hate these plots where there's no communication. I LITERALLY DO NOT CARE HOW MUCH IT'S GONNE HURT, IF YOU'VE MOVED ON FROM SOMEONE OR FALLEN OUT OF LOVE WITH THEM YOU BREAK IT OFF BEFORE YOU GET WITH OTHER PEOPLE
its literally common decency I HATE CHEATING SO MUCH STOP NORMALISING AND ROMANTICISING CHEATING IT IS NOT OKAY
((oh, and also Danny's mum is cheating on his dad so I guess the apple don't fall far from the tree))

� The setting. I know I said I liked it, and I do but also it's confusing. I'm unsure of what the redworld is exactly, and also I'm not sure it's realistic. Sure, fossil fuels can/will run out, but it's not like its the "only" power source. Solar panels? Wind power?. The book set up the world is desolate, but many places could actually function to some degree off of renewable energy (my sister tells me anyway, she has a degree in this) ALSO, it was so random there was a war for fuel in RUSSIA... it seems more likely it'd be in an oil hotspot, like the Middle East or gulf of Mexico, or even America.

� There were too many ideas that didn't connect up well. The greenworld/redworld + the witches + the threat of the gangs + Roach (the evil witch antagonist) + having to keep all the portals safe + the internal conflict with the witches + the mistrust of the witches from the villagers + Linda and Sadie side plot + THE WEIRD VIRGIN RITUAL (cannot get over it it was so weird)
Anyway, it felt like the books jumped from idea to idea and they didn't actually connect. I didn't know how they all related, and I didn't know what the main overarching complication was. There was too much all messed together.

� I just didn't like the prose. This is more of a personal point, and I'm sure some people will find it fine but it was very full of describing mundane things. Like "Danny dressed in a blue shirt and jeans, and went into the kitchen. He sat at a chair, and made some tea with three teaspoons of sugar. Outside it was sunny, and there were birds chirping"
Like it was just alot of reading, for not much actually happening. This book felt WAY too long, and I didn't even get to page 300.

� How the villain was salty women were in charge PLS. His calling card was literally "Join the gangs. Betray your family. we have boys"

� Nah fuck the virgin ritual needs its own dot point. I can't believe I had to read a virgin ritual with my own two eyes


URRRGHH. Disappointed because I WAS ready to like this !! I was !! And I tried really hard to finish it. But I just cannot. I cannot endure another page of Danny whining and Saba being perfect, and cheating, and it was just a messs and aarrgh

Do not really recommend TBH


]]> Monster (Monster, #1) 26082351
Now, four years later, meteorites are hitting Earth with a virus that is even deadlier. Humans will mutate into monsters and the whole world will be exposed.

But power corrupts. As some teens begin to morph into heroes, they will find that others become dangerously out of control and that the world is on the brink of a monstrous battle between good and evil.

And there is only one thing more terrifying than the fear of the unknown: when history repeats itself.

In this first of a trilogy, Michael Grant has created a stunning follow-up to the globally bestselling Gone series.]]> 420 Michael Grant 0062467840 � jami � 0 dnf
but

I'm an adult now, and it's been brought to my attention recently that the series is problematic in many aspects of it's characterisation of minorities. I will be providing links to own voices reviews below.
I've also been really ..... put off ... the author because of his online presence on Twitter and Facebook. Recently, the author has been attacking other marginalised writers and reviewers, being very rude to and outright attacking people who pointed out some flaws in his books, and posting Facebook comments which are disturbing at best, and often outright racist/homophobic and generally nasty.

The Gone series will always have a special place in my heart, because I do have good memories of loving the characters, and the fact it got me into reading will always be with me. But I have no interest in supporting this author any further.

Books are not perfect, no one is consuming pure media. If authors make mistakes, thats human. But denying you made them, refusing and attacking those you hurt, and ignoring criticism is not good. I don't want to support authors who won't even try to do better. I don't want to support authors who attack teenagers, who attack minorities, who harass people on social media - including my personal teenage friends.

So I'm done. I'm not going to finish this. At the end of the day, I have my good memories, I know the situation now. And I'm choosing to just .. not continue on this path. I would rather support different authors with my time and money.

Thankyou to the publisher for sending me an arc. I appreciate that so much.

SOME LINKS:





this




SOME REVIEWS:




---

Now, I think you can like books that have problematic rep. I do. As long as you criticise them
But I want authors to do better. I want authors to go "okay. I messed up and hurt the people I wanted to represent. What can I do to do better?"

And I'm not seeing that.


PSA: So far this book has trans rep, which I already have highlighted as being hmmm

eg. asking about deadnames, misgendering, asking about genitals/sex

AGAIN, Thankyou to the publisher. This is a personal decision I hope you can all respect.

I have good Gone memories, and I also have Gone criticism. And I think I'll just leave that in the past and not bring it into the future.]]> 3.72 2017 Monster (Monster, #1)
author: Michael Grant
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/11/16
shelves: dnf
review:
I've not made it a secret in the history of my online book blogging presence that I was a big fan of the Gone series as a kid. I read the series toward the end of primary school, and I really loved it then. It was my favourite series and it got me into reading. Those memories are really fond for me still

but

I'm an adult now, and it's been brought to my attention recently that the series is problematic in many aspects of it's characterisation of minorities. I will be providing links to own voices reviews below.
I've also been really ..... put off ... the author because of his online presence on Twitter and Facebook. Recently, the author has been attacking other marginalised writers and reviewers, being very rude to and outright attacking people who pointed out some flaws in his books, and posting Facebook comments which are disturbing at best, and often outright racist/homophobic and generally nasty.

The Gone series will always have a special place in my heart, because I do have good memories of loving the characters, and the fact it got me into reading will always be with me. But I have no interest in supporting this author any further.

Books are not perfect, no one is consuming pure media. If authors make mistakes, thats human. But denying you made them, refusing and attacking those you hurt, and ignoring criticism is not good. I don't want to support authors who won't even try to do better. I don't want to support authors who attack teenagers, who attack minorities, who harass people on social media - including my personal teenage friends.

So I'm done. I'm not going to finish this. At the end of the day, I have my good memories, I know the situation now. And I'm choosing to just .. not continue on this path. I would rather support different authors with my time and money.

Thankyou to the publisher for sending me an arc. I appreciate that so much.

SOME LINKS:





this




SOME REVIEWS:




---

Now, I think you can like books that have problematic rep. I do. As long as you criticise them
But I want authors to do better. I want authors to go "okay. I messed up and hurt the people I wanted to represent. What can I do to do better?"

And I'm not seeing that.


PSA: So far this book has trans rep, which I already have highlighted as being hmmm

eg. asking about deadnames, misgendering, asking about genitals/sex

AGAIN, Thankyou to the publisher. This is a personal decision I hope you can all respect.

I have good Gone memories, and I also have Gone criticism. And I think I'll just leave that in the past and not bring it into the future.
]]> All the Bright Places 18460392 The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this exhilarating and heart-wrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Elle Fanning!
Ìý
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
Ìý
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.
Ìý
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders� of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.
Ìý
This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.]]> 388 Jennifer Niven 0385755880 � jami � 1 ok. short story



long story

The thing is, coming into this book I read really, really excited I'd heard ALOT of good things and no bad things at all. I wasn't expecting to dislike this, and yet? I did.

The thing is, first off, I just didn't connect with the characters. Everyone loves Finch, but I didn't really. I mean, he was okay. I didn't HATE him, but I also didn't particularly enjoy him. I just found him a little too .. unrealistic? Violet I liked a bit more, but again I had the same issues. Her and Finch were just so unrealistic I can't connect with characters who are my age but act nothing like people my age. I don't understand the book obsession with making teenagers only read classics and communicate in metaphors and philosophical observations alone.

There were so many parts of this book where I just felt so unconnected because I was so distracted by the absurdity of the actions of these people. I think it was supposed to be kind of 'cute and unique' byt the whole time I was just like where are these teenagers coming from is this the difference between American and Australian's high schools??

I mean? Just. URGH. URRGGHH. They just came off as so pretentious and fake to me and goD I just can not deal with it I don't know why this irritated me so much but it did.

I don't know, I said this book feels like a mix between The Fault in Our Stars and Perks of Being a Wallflower that doesn't actually work and I stand by it. I don't know, the characters just annoyed me.

And I didn't even care for the romance of it all?? I didn't really find myself invested in Finch/Violet's relationship at all. I was so blergh about it. Which makes it really hard to care about the book when 85% of it was about their relationship.

I only got 70% of the way through this book. (My loan on the audiobook expired so yea) and maybe I'll finish it later but probably not. I already know what happens and I don't really care for finishing the book now. [spoilers removed] It's not really like I was enjoying it anyway.

EDIT: I don't usually change my ratings on books but I've been thinking about this and realsiing how much I truly hated it. Like, I just can not get over how pretentious and unrealistic the whole thing was. Like first up tf kind of school do they even go to (I'm convinced every ya author didn't go to high-school because they're always portrayed wrong) second of all, I'm realising the ONLY THING I know about any of these characters is that they're mentally ill and it sucks. They're the flattest people ever and nothing is "ultraviolet remarkeyable" about them. thirdly -- piss off w/ the whole "I read, I'm a 'deep thinker' so I'm obviousllyyy smarter then any of you" like URGH why are they like this I just can't w/ the whole philosophical teenage thing JUST EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS WAS PRETENTIOUS AND GROSS I'M DONE IT'S A SOLID 1*

@ ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES. GET OFF MY LAWN. ]]> 4.11 2015 All the Bright Places
author: Jennifer Niven
name: � jami �
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2015
rating: 1
read at: 2016/05/14
date added: 2017/11/16
shelves: 2016-reads, contemporary, romance, young-adult, dnf, overhyped
review:
ok. short story



long story

The thing is, coming into this book I read really, really excited I'd heard ALOT of good things and no bad things at all. I wasn't expecting to dislike this, and yet? I did.

The thing is, first off, I just didn't connect with the characters. Everyone loves Finch, but I didn't really. I mean, he was okay. I didn't HATE him, but I also didn't particularly enjoy him. I just found him a little too .. unrealistic? Violet I liked a bit more, but again I had the same issues. Her and Finch were just so unrealistic I can't connect with characters who are my age but act nothing like people my age. I don't understand the book obsession with making teenagers only read classics and communicate in metaphors and philosophical observations alone.

There were so many parts of this book where I just felt so unconnected because I was so distracted by the absurdity of the actions of these people. I think it was supposed to be kind of 'cute and unique' byt the whole time I was just like where are these teenagers coming from is this the difference between American and Australian's high schools??

I mean? Just. URGH. URRGGHH. They just came off as so pretentious and fake to me and goD I just can not deal with it I don't know why this irritated me so much but it did.

I don't know, I said this book feels like a mix between The Fault in Our Stars and Perks of Being a Wallflower that doesn't actually work and I stand by it. I don't know, the characters just annoyed me.

And I didn't even care for the romance of it all?? I didn't really find myself invested in Finch/Violet's relationship at all. I was so blergh about it. Which makes it really hard to care about the book when 85% of it was about their relationship.

I only got 70% of the way through this book. (My loan on the audiobook expired so yea) and maybe I'll finish it later but probably not. I already know what happens and I don't really care for finishing the book now. [spoilers removed] It's not really like I was enjoying it anyway.

EDIT: I don't usually change my ratings on books but I've been thinking about this and realsiing how much I truly hated it. Like, I just can not get over how pretentious and unrealistic the whole thing was. Like first up tf kind of school do they even go to (I'm convinced every ya author didn't go to high-school because they're always portrayed wrong) second of all, I'm realising the ONLY THING I know about any of these characters is that they're mentally ill and it sucks. They're the flattest people ever and nothing is "ultraviolet remarkeyable" about them. thirdly -- piss off w/ the whole "I read, I'm a 'deep thinker' so I'm obviousllyyy smarter then any of you" like URGH why are they like this I just can't w/ the whole philosophical teenage thing JUST EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS WAS PRETENTIOUS AND GROSS I'M DONE IT'S A SOLID 1*

@ ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES. GET OFF MY LAWN.
]]> A Kind of Justice 30137585
Then her impossibly perfect life falls apart.

In the space of a few weeks, the Great Recession drags her business to the brink of failure, her beloved ex-wife needs help in facing a terrible tragedy, and a hateful police detective storms back into her life, determined to convict her of the five-year-old murder of John Strand—pillar of the community—and a sexual predator.

As the detective builds an ever more convincing case against her, both of them will be shaken by revelations—about themselves, about their own deeply held secrets, and about the bizarre ritual murder of John Strand.Ìý]]> 320 Renee James 1608092127 âœ� jami âœ� 0
this book was provided to me from the publisher in exchange for an honest review


dnf @31%

I just ... couldn't. PLEASE NOTE: there is nothing inherently wrong with this book. Actually, I think possible for another audience it could be really enjoyable

A Kind of Justice follows Bobbi Logan, a trans woman working in a popular, up market hair salon. I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but what this book turned out to be alot of was ... business falling apart, the stress of going broke and that fun business jazz. And by fun I mean, boring.

I didn't HATE THIS, because there was elements of it I really liked. I really liked the friendships between the girls at the salon, I really liked it was diverse, I really liked some of the characters.

But there was also things I didn't - like super cliche detectives, and some of the comments on lgbt+ communities.

I just had zero interest in finishing or continuing this, and I don't want to drag myself through books I don't like anymore.

I DO think people could enjoy this, if you like adult contemporaries it'd probably be more enjoyable.]]> 3.97 2016 A Kind of Justice
author: Renee James
name: � jami �
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at: 2017/01/29
date added: 2017/11/16
shelves: 2017-reads, dnf, contemporary, lgbtqiap, adult
review:
this book was provided to me from the publisher in exchange for an honest review


dnf @31%

I just ... couldn't. PLEASE NOTE: there is nothing inherently wrong with this book. Actually, I think possible for another audience it could be really enjoyable

A Kind of Justice follows Bobbi Logan, a trans woman working in a popular, up market hair salon. I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but what this book turned out to be alot of was ... business falling apart, the stress of going broke and that fun business jazz. And by fun I mean, boring.

I didn't HATE THIS, because there was elements of it I really liked. I really liked the friendships between the girls at the salon, I really liked it was diverse, I really liked some of the characters.

But there was also things I didn't - like super cliche detectives, and some of the comments on lgbt+ communities.

I just had zero interest in finishing or continuing this, and I don't want to drag myself through books I don't like anymore.

I DO think people could enjoy this, if you like adult contemporaries it'd probably be more enjoyable.
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