Michelle wants to read No Less Strange or Wonderful: Essays

"finished & deff think it's overhyped 👀🫐 i’m sorrryyyyyy

i honestly think it’s bc some of these characters are my least favorite EVER (i’m looking at you, Norma's mom). i simply couldn't get past it and how she had no remorse or accountability and that half of the resolution made me so angry / wanting more...

i also did not feel connected to Joe’s story at all. it felt all over the place and was hard for me to follow—maybe that was bc it was on audio but the nonlinear timeline of his POV was hard to connect to and understand.

that said, i learned a lot and always think it's interesting to explore how childhood trauma effects you through life so looking through that lens, this was very well done. it was interesting to see Norma and Joe’s POVs juxtaposed side by side and how their experiences ended up being so different but also similar in ways after the same event. this book challenges you to really think about how grief and how knowing your background/who you are/who your family is may really effect your self identity.

idk if the reveal of who Norma is was supposed to be a shock but i think it’s pretty intuitive from chapter 2? there are some plot holes with Norma’s POV for me and questions left unanswered��

this author has absolutely beautiful writing and i am shocked it’s her debut! would read more by her but ultimately couldn’t get connected to this one. but i suppose that’s low key a round of applause to the author bc she sure made me feel powerfully about some characters LOL

emo ending for sure! and the cover is gorg!!! just a bit of a miss for me and maybe that’s bc it is mismarketed?! certainly not a thriller but also not a family drama in my eyes"

"Cute, magical, adorable. Took a break from my usual thriller/mystery genre. This is like a Hallmark movie. A story of a 31 year old witch finding family and herself with the help of 3 little witches.

There were a few welcome plot twists at the end that were not entirely surprising but added joy to the story."

Sara is on page 40 of 560 of Sylvia's Lovers