bexellency's reviews
953 reviews

Pros and cons.  There are some great voices and stories in this collection.  But because it’s essays by multiple people all around the same theme, it’s repetitive.  Better dipped into from time to time than read cover to cover.  Also, unless you have a huge knowledge of pop culture figures, there are going to be bunch of people you haven’t heard of, and these stories are much less interesting when they’re about strangers.  Also, and this is totally my bad, I thought this was America Ferrera’s biography, so I didn’t realize what I was picking up.

Ooof, I thought I got pst the books that use a Covid 19 as plot device/background color/scene filler after I read the installments in series that were published in 2021/2022.  Imagine my surprise that this 2024 release is set squarely right after the lock down era and makes tons of references.  I’m not a fan; plus I think it makes the book already feel dated.  Otherwise, what I’ve come to enjoy and expect from this series.

The allegory is strong in this one.  Look, House in the Cerulean Sea was hope punk at its finest, a lovely world, a hopeful story, a good escape.  Book 2 is a little too real, the parallels continually slapping you awake.  And it was meant to be that way, at least that’s how I read the author’s note.  Mission accomplished.  But not as good a read for me as a result.  And so much less discovery, since you’ve already met most all the characters in the first book.

Lucky is going through some hard things and making assumptions using kid-logic that make things even harder.  But she’s plucky and passionate and independent.  The later part of the book is

odd - the bug in the ear scene excessively gross and the denouement very rushed, but I won’t hold that against it.

. I can see why this won a Newberry.  I love Lucky’s interpretation of the anonymous people.

Eh… I wanted to like this but for various reasons I didn’t.  Second book for me by this author and strongly in the authors only have one story to tell camp.  So much the same as Iona’s Rules for Commuting.  Charismatic older character with high society past and an absent partner, younger characters struggling in life with happiness and confidence, lonely people creating new bonds, etc.  
This one also seemed to drag on and on, long after it felt like it was wrapping up in the Christmas scene.  Perhaps I’m done with this author?

Sure, who doesn't want Kate Mczkinnon to read them a book?  But once you get over that novelty, this book and the audio book narration performance are both so over the top ridiculous as to render the experience a bit cringe.  Novel, certainly.  Quality wiring, hmmm...

Got annoyed with Kincaid in the last book or two for his man mindset and completely lack of understanding, or even attempt to understand, Gemma’s perspective, professionally and as a single mother, on their relationship.  Still sour on him in this book, but that was far from the biggest issue.  Instead, the problem here is that this book dragged on forever and ever.  Again and again I thought they were about to wrap things up, only to check and see I still have hours to go in the audio book.  How?  Argh!  I think it’s time for me to abandon this series.

Down with the whole class novel!  I immediately thought of ones I’d hated - The Red Pony, Cold Sassy Tree, On the Road, A separate Peace.  Avoid reader despite them.  Eventually thought of a couple I’d actually liked - The Giver and The Fountainhead.

Enjoyable fun, as always.

Just too over the top and ridiculous.  Parody without finesse.