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shereadytoread's reviews
742 reviews
The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is an extremely dark read. It takes place in a dark dystopian near future in which society has fallen through a series of events discussed but never fully identified. The main character is a member of a convent that follows a religion of enlightenment that is maintained through high levels of pain and violence.
If you cannot deal with details of injury then this is definitely not for you. Through the book it is present in explicit detail. At the core this book is about coming back to yourself, the pliability of morality and finding something to fight for. I think this book leaned much heavier into dark violence than the previous works I’ve read by this author. It almost felt like it dragged out too much that every page for much of the book is just infliction of pain or pondering on such in some way.
Disclosure: I received a gifted finished copy from the publisher.
If you cannot deal with details of injury then this is definitely not for you. Through the book it is present in explicit detail. At the core this book is about coming back to yourself, the pliability of morality and finding something to fight for. I think this book leaned much heavier into dark violence than the previous works I’ve read by this author. It almost felt like it dragged out too much that every page for much of the book is just infliction of pain or pondering on such in some way.
Disclosure: I received a gifted finished copy from the publisher.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual violence
They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran
dark
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed the book. It was such a different vibe from She is a Haunting. The imagery of the setting of the mutated swamp was so well done and described. The passages of body horror were described in a way that was so unsettling but not completely gross.
The character of Noon was really well written. Dealing with a natural disaster, loss as a result, complicated family dynamics, and exploration of their own identity. Her choices are measured and difficult, often with no "right" option, leading to a complex character journey as they all try to survive.
The book blends eco-horror, Vietnamese folklore, and body horror in a striking piece. It handles the trauma of our characters with care, and delivers a deeply immersive exploration of identity, climate change, class, and intersectionality on a horrific backdrop.
I listened to a portion of the audio to get a sense of the narration. The narrator I thought was good and the story was really engaging via audio.
Disclosure: I received a free hardcover from the publisher and a free ALC from Libro.FM.
The character of Noon was really well written. Dealing with a natural disaster, loss as a result, complicated family dynamics, and exploration of their own identity. Her choices are measured and difficult, often with no "right" option, leading to a complex character journey as they all try to survive.
The book blends eco-horror, Vietnamese folklore, and body horror in a striking piece. It handles the trauma of our characters with care, and delivers a deeply immersive exploration of identity, climate change, class, and intersectionality on a horrific backdrop.
I listened to a portion of the audio to get a sense of the narration. The narrator I thought was good and the story was really engaging via audio.
Disclosure: I received a free hardcover from the publisher and a free ALC from Libro.FM.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar by Robin R. Means Coleman, Mark H. Harris
funny
informative
reflective
4.0
I enjoyed this book a lot but not as much as I wished. It is an entry level/introductory text so if you don't have a large foundation of information about black cinema or horror cinema, this is probably the perfect book for you. As someone that has read a lot about horror and film history, this didn't have a ton of new information.
One strength if you enjoy a more personable tone in nonfiction is that this book uses a lot of humor and jokes throughout. It presents the information in an easy to digest way that has a lot of "listicle" sections to break up the larger chapters. I did really enjoy a few of those and they were typically very humorous.
Having read works by both of the authors separately, you can really see each of their influence in the text. Some of the humor did not land for me, but I think it can be a great draw if you are not a heavy nonfiction reader.
This is a great delve into the history of black representation in cinema, stereotypes of black characters, evolution of focus in black horror over the 20th and 21st century.
One strength if you enjoy a more personable tone in nonfiction is that this book uses a lot of humor and jokes throughout. It presents the information in an easy to digest way that has a lot of "listicle" sections to break up the larger chapters. I did really enjoy a few of those and they were typically very humorous.
Having read works by both of the authors separately, you can really see each of their influence in the text. Some of the humor did not land for me, but I think it can be a great draw if you are not a heavy nonfiction reader.
This is a great delve into the history of black representation in cinema, stereotypes of black characters, evolution of focus in black horror over the 20th and 21st century.
Final Girls by Mira Grant
2.5
This wasnt my favorite and it’s hard to pin down why. It felt at some points the author was over explaining the obvious and then at some points there was not enough given when it was needed.
At the bare bones it’s a story about essentially corporate espionage with a spin towards sci-fi and horror. I don’t think it was my favorite premise to start with and the writing wasn’t hitting the mark for me. I will definitely give this author another shot but I don’t think this was the right place for me to start in their backlist.
At the bare bones it’s a story about essentially corporate espionage with a spin towards sci-fi and horror. I don’t think it was my favorite premise to start with and the writing wasn’t hitting the mark for me. I will definitely give this author another shot but I don’t think this was the right place for me to start in their backlist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Violence
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma
A Pack for Autumn by Emilia Emerson
emotional
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I think this cemented that omegaverse books may not be for me but I think it’s as good of an omegaverse book/story as I’ve ever read.
My issue is primarily the constant repetition of alpha and omega which is a tenet of this type of story, but highly interrupts the flow of storytelling to repeat in first or third person. To use the same exact word in almost every piece of dialogue felt like saying a persons name at the beginning of every sentence. It’s just meh.
The flow of the story itself is nice. It is why choose so relationships work in 3s and 4s it seems for everyone. The supporting characters are kind and really rally around the main character. Honestly if not for the repetitive word usage I think this book could have been 4 or 5 stars for me.
I enjoyed the interesting mental health take that the story took in relation to the FMC and the various family structures represented, not just the pack relationships but foster/fictive kin care, community care, grandparent caregivers and more. There’s a lot to like about this world but the writing is not for me.
My issue is primarily the constant repetition of alpha and omega which is a tenet of this type of story, but highly interrupts the flow of storytelling to repeat in first or third person. To use the same exact word in almost every piece of dialogue felt like saying a persons name at the beginning of every sentence. It’s just meh.
The flow of the story itself is nice. It is why choose so relationships work in 3s and 4s it seems for everyone. The supporting characters are kind and really rally around the main character. Honestly if not for the repetitive word usage I think this book could have been 4 or 5 stars for me.
I enjoyed the interesting mental health take that the story took in relation to the FMC and the various family structures represented, not just the pack relationships but foster/fictive kin care, community care, grandparent caregivers and more. There’s a lot to like about this world but the writing is not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment
The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. Rarely do I actually laugh at the comedy in a rom-com, but a few of the situations were hilarious. The cast of characters and fun banter made this a good reading experience. I loved Danica Nava's writing and how she described the characters. The overall pacing I thought was good but some situations definitely happened a bit faster than I thought made sense within the context of the story.
Now the plot itself was great. A few "white lies" on the resume snowball into a big web of lies that our main character is caught in putting her job and romance at risk. It made sense and it was generally believable.
Where the book faltered from being a 5-star for me was the lying became so much of a pattern. It made sense when Ember told lies to cover up the lies that she already told, but quite a few seemed to just be lying for no reason which added some meh for me.
I am excited to read Danica's next release. Her writing kept me engaged, all the surrounding characters have their own distinct personality and voice. I would love to see this become a series of interconnected standalone to revisit some of our ensemble characters (especially her best friend and her brother!).
Now the plot itself was great. A few "white lies" on the resume snowball into a big web of lies that our main character is caught in putting her job and romance at risk. It made sense and it was generally believable.
Where the book faltered from being a 5-star for me was the lying became so much of a pattern. It made sense when Ember told lies to cover up the lies that she already told, but quite a few seemed to just be lying for no reason which added some meh for me.
I am excited to read Danica's next release. Her writing kept me engaged, all the surrounding characters have their own distinct personality and voice. I would love to see this become a series of interconnected standalone to revisit some of our ensemble characters (especially her best friend and her brother!).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Racial slurs, Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol
The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us by Rachelle Bergstein
informative
inspiring
reflective
5.0
I really enjoyed this book and I think that it's important to understand what this book is, before deciding to read it. This book is not just a specific biography of Judy Blume. Of course, there is biographical information about Judy and her life because its necessary to understand. Instead it is about Judy's life with a focus on each of her books, their cultural impact and how they were connected to the past and today.
You don't need to have read Judy's books to enjoy this book. The book summarizes many of her novels and discusses why each novel's content was important or groundbreaking at the time. It connects the content of the books to both Judy's life and the general need in society that Judy felt she was filling with each book.
This book has a lot of information on the history of book banning and sex education within the United States, and how past political choices have landed us to the book banning movement of today. It discusses the feminism movements within the United States and how various rights gained by women throughout the 20th century contributed to the evolution of Judy's writing and general child and teen fiction and education.
I tandem read this book starting with print and switching over to audio. It's a great read and although I didn't read many of Judy Blume's books growing up, I found this book engaging and the content and context of her work to be very interesting.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher. I purchased the audiobook myself.
You don't need to have read Judy's books to enjoy this book. The book summarizes many of her novels and discusses why each novel's content was important or groundbreaking at the time. It connects the content of the books to both Judy's life and the general need in society that Judy felt she was filling with each book.
This book has a lot of information on the history of book banning and sex education within the United States, and how past political choices have landed us to the book banning movement of today. It discusses the feminism movements within the United States and how various rights gained by women throughout the 20th century contributed to the evolution of Judy's writing and general child and teen fiction and education.
I tandem read this book starting with print and switching over to audio. It's a great read and although I didn't read many of Judy Blume's books growing up, I found this book engaging and the content and context of her work to be very interesting.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher. I purchased the audiobook myself.
All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this audiobook. This book had age appropriate dealings of grief that were written with a lot of depth and emotion. The narrator was great. You follow our main character through her grief journey and trying to find a new normal without her best friend. The family and supporting characters were great from adults who don't get it, family and friends who do, and those who try but miss the mark.
I would definitely recommend this one.
Disclosure: I received a gifted ALC from Libro.FM and the publisher.
I would definitely recommend this one.
Disclosure: I received a gifted ALC from Libro.FM and the publisher.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws
1.5
This book had a bit too much going on and I think in trying to really push the "comedy" of the romantic comedy became extremely cringey. First, allowing your newly 18 year old niece to be in charge of your surrogacy journey was just weird and keeping her POV especially after chapters that include sex scenes felt very odd. It just kept going from there.
I think this book has an odd relationship with surrogacy. Obviously the main character is wanting to be a surrogate and the MMC wants to be a dad but the book can't seem to decide if it's critical of the formal surrogacy industry or not. It also completely undermines what surrogacy is supposed to be even before the relationship is involved. The author has a forward about her own fertility journey and seems to use that to justify why she can flippantly write about surrogacy. This gave very much "buying a baby" and getting pregnant is a funny little task, and trying to use fluffy language around that because we all know the HEA is coming.
The second that the "surrogate" FMC arrives on the mountain, she is immediately acting basically like a live-in girlfriend. She even starts to randomly bring animals and new pets into this man's property and home. I think it's supposed to be a "quirk" and "look how much she loves animals" but a man that is letting her stay for free specifically tells her "don't bring ______" and she does. The MMC is ... not anywhere near an emotionally healthy person that should be becoming a single parent purposefully. Tons of weird family issues that they try to show as "personal development", some weird slut-shamey stuff on a past love interest with no blame for the MMC of course, and in general he's just ... not great?
This is a book of moral and ethical ickiness that is packaged as a cute love story.
Disclosure: I received a free eARC from the publisher.
I think this book has an odd relationship with surrogacy. Obviously the main character is wanting to be a surrogate and the MMC wants to be a dad but the book can't seem to decide if it's critical of the formal surrogacy industry or not. It also completely undermines what surrogacy is supposed to be even before the relationship is involved. The author has a forward about her own fertility journey and seems to use that to justify why she can flippantly write about surrogacy. This gave very much "buying a baby" and getting pregnant is a funny little task, and trying to use fluffy language around that because we all know the HEA is coming.
The second that the "surrogate" FMC arrives on the mountain, she is immediately acting basically like a live-in girlfriend. She even starts to randomly bring animals and new pets into this man's property and home. I think it's supposed to be a "quirk" and "look how much she loves animals" but a man that is letting her stay for free specifically tells her "don't bring ______" and she does. The MMC is ... not anywhere near an emotionally healthy person that should be becoming a single parent purposefully. Tons of weird family issues that they try to show as "personal development", some weird slut-shamey stuff on a past love interest with no blame for the MMC of course, and in general he's just ... not great?
This is a book of moral and ethical ickiness that is packaged as a cute love story.
Disclosure: I received a free eARC from the publisher.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
You Got Anything Stronger?: Stories by Gabrielle Union
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
5.0
This was an excellent follow up to her first memoir. I absolutely loved this book and found it to be incredibly relatable, inspiring and funny. This one felt more open and vulnerable than the first. She delves into her infertility issues, realizations of mistakes she made in trying to offer good representation as a mother and an actress, and different pitfalls and funny stories. I think audio is the best way to read this book, but each story has a message that is relatable (even if it’s an uncomfortable relation).
I am so glad that she wrote this follow up!
I am so glad that she wrote this follow up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Racism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism