✨Jܱ�'s Updates en-US Fri, 04 Apr 2025 17:33:35 -0700 60 ✨Jܱ�'s Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Rating843850303 Fri, 04 Apr 2025 17:33:35 -0700 <![CDATA[<Update id=16315404679 user_id=15367905 resource_id=843850303 resource_type=Rating>]]> Review6867695256 Fri, 04 Apr 2025 16:35:28 -0700 <![CDATA[✨Jܱ� added 'Phantasma']]> /review/show/6867695256 Phantasma by Kaylie Smith ✨Jܱ� is currently reading Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1) by Kaylie Smith
bookshelves: currently-reading
Stepping out of my comfort zone with this one� I hate horror and I’m rarely a fan of dark romance, but I’m caving to the hype. Y’all better not be lying! 😆 ]]> Rating843603198 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 23:16:27 -0700 <![CDATA[✨Jܱ� liked a friend]]> /
✨Jܱ� liked that Eesha is now a friend of Andrea
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✨Jܱ� liked cheska (busy)'s status update
cheska (busy)
cheska (busy) is on page 250 of 448 of Magnolia Parks: i don't think i'm mentally stable enough for this 😭
]]> Comment289099448 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 23:11:59 -0700 <![CDATA[✨Jܱ� made a comment on chloé ✿’s status]]> /user_status/show/1039375827 ✨Jܱ� made a comment on chloé ✿’s status

I love it lol ]]> Rating843602315 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 23:11:51 -0700 <![CDATA[✨Jܱ� liked a userstatus]]> /
✨Jܱ� liked chloé �'s status update
chloé ✿
chloé � is on page 20 of 368 of Say You'll Remember Me: idk how I feel about the Rhysand comparisons lol
]]> Comment289099268 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 22:59:39 -0700 <![CDATA[✨Jܱ� made a comment on Iqra’s status]]> /user_status/show/1038502066 ✨Jܱ� made a comment on Iqra’s status

Hope you love it! ]]> Review7439906589 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 19:16:59 -0700 <![CDATA[✨Jܱ� added 'Us in Ruins']]> /review/show/7439906589 Us in Ruins by Rachel Moore ✨Jܱ� gave 2 stars to Us in Ruins (Hardcover) by Rachel Moore
� 2.5 stars �

What to Expect:
� Hate-to-Love
� Reluctant Allies
� Opposites Attract
� Slow Burn
� Forced Proximity
� Adventure Rom-Com
� Stand-alone
� The Mummy Vibes
� Ancient Curse
� Third Person POV

With a few changes, I think I could have loved this, but there were some issues I just couldn’t get past. My biggest hang up was the FMC. After following the clues left in his journal, Margot discovers that the MMC (Van) was turned to stone nearly a hundred years ago and she is miraculously able to bring him back to life. This would be an absolutely amazing and terrifying event to witness for her, but can you imagine how traumatic it would have been for him? Any normal person would treat him with kindness and explain what happened to him with care. Not Margot, she immediately starts arguing with him about unimportant things and unceremoniously reveals to him that he had been a statue for 100 years without an ounce of empathy.

She is laser focus on her desire to find the shards and put together the vase and seems unconcerned by what that could mean for Van (you will see that it means a lot). At the very least you would think they would both be concerned about being turned into a statue for good, but I’m not sure that thought ever even crossed their minds. At one point during a discussion/argument she tells him something along the lines of “at least everyone who hated you is dead.� I was shocked by this line. Honestly, how inconsiderate and unfeeling can a person be?

I guess it’s really just the FMC that needed some tweaks. I think the author was trying too hard to make this enemies-to-lovers. Yes, we love that trope, but not everything needs to be enemies-to-lovers and I think this is a good example of that. I would have much rather she have shown him empathy and support as the only person in the world who knew what he had been through. This had so much potential! I really wish I had loved it more!

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Pre-read: Whoever is doing this author’s cover art deserves a raise. 🤌🏻

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Connect with me on ]]> Review7460091645 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 17:18:12 -0700 <![CDATA[✨Jܱ� added 'Say You'll Remember Me']]> /review/show/7460091645 Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez ✨Jܱ� is currently reading Say You'll Remember Me (Kindle Edition) by Abby Jimenez
bookshelves: currently-reading
Update: This was maybe the 5th tornado warning in 24 hours, but thankfully I am safe and in an area free of flooding. Still on a watch at the moment and it’s looking like it might be another long night. Hopefully it will all pass safely soon. 🙏🏻

Currently shut up in my tiny bathroom with tornado sirens blaring, but at least I have books. 🙃😬 ]]> Review7235259327 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 14:28:04 -0700 <![CDATA[✨Jܱ� added 'James']]> /review/show/7235259327 James by Percival Everett ✨Jܱ� gave 5 stars to James (Hardcover) by Percival Everett
� 5 stars �

What to Expect:
� Winner of the 2024 National Book Award
� Explores themes of Race & Racism
� Reclaiming Identity (choosing James, rejecting Jim)
� Reimagining of a Classic (Huckleberry Finn)
� First Person POV

“At that moment the power of reading made itself clear and real to me. If I could see the words, then no one could control them or what I got from them. They couldn’t even know if I was merely seeing them or reading them, sounding them out or comprehending them. It was a completely private affair and completely free and, therefore, completely subversive.�

This was such a phenomenal read! I honestly do regret not rereading Huckleberry Finn first though. If you wanted to pick this up without ever reading Huck Finn, you could do so without difficulty or confusion, but I personally would have liked to make a more detailed comparison in my mind of what was altered as I read.

I wish I could say I was surprised that this book was added to the banned book list, but I imagine some of these lines caused some pretty severe white discomfort. 😅 I bet this one in particular made some white people BIG MAD� “White folks expect us to sound a certain way and it can only help if we don’t disappoint them,� I said. “The only ones who suffer when they are made to feel inferior is us. Perhaps I should say ‘when they don’t feel superior.� So, let’s pause to review some of the basics.� “Don’t make eye contact,� a boy said. “Right, Virgil.� “Never speak first,� a girl said. “That’s correct, February,� I said.�

There are some pretty significant changes to the original storyline that you will want to read first hand. Do yourself a favor and don’t read any more reviews! Trust me, it’s not worth the risk that someone might spoil it. 🙃 I do recommend reading or rereading Huckleberry Finn, but otherwise I’d try to go in as blind as possible. This is definitely one of those books that everyone should read!

“To fight in a war,' he said. 'Can you imagine?'
'Would that mean facing death every day and doing what other people tell you to do?' I asked.
'I reckon.'
'Yes, Huck. I can imagine.�

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Pre-read: Maybe I should have reread Huckleberry Finn before jumping into this� hoping the vague outline I have in my head will be enough! 🙃

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