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Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Lessons in Chemistry is one of those novels that I have a strong love-hate relationship with ... to the point that I go back and forth on my feelings about the book from day to day. If you haven't yet heard about this oft-recommended novel, Lessons in Chemistry is about a female chemist-turned-TV show star, who finds herself battling female stereotypes and prejudices as she attempts to make a name (and living) for herself in the 1950s and '60s. Naturally, a woman making waves in science during this "women belong in the home" period in time is not going to be met without opposition ... and that's what Lessons in Chemistry is all about.
So, let's start with the good. Author Bonnie Garmus envelops readers in science, making chemistry almost a character of its own in her book. As someone whose worst subject in school WAS chemistry, I appreciated that Garmus did not lose me entirely as she invited me into main character Elizabeth Zott's world. As a fan of historical fiction, I also enjoyed how Garmus brought the 1950s and early 1960s to life, complete with the many hurdles and hoops women had to jump over and through to be deemed relevant and noteworthy. I especially loved the cooking show aspect of the novel, which was just a lot of fun and a breath of fresh air.
On the other hand, I will be the first to say that Elizabeth Zott is an entirely unlikeable character. Unfortunately, I prefer to relate to and like the characters I am reading about, so Elizabeth Zott rubbed me the wrong way more times than I could count. Furthermore, Lessons in Chemistry required me to suspend disbelief on several occasions, as Garmus used a few unusual plot devices and storylines. For one, Elizabeth Zott's dog Six-Thirty becomes a primary character in the novel. Don't get me wrong - I love dogs, especially dogs that survive to the end of the story - but through omnipresent narration, Garmus treated Six-Thirty as human, inviting readers into his innermost thoughts and workings, which I must say, were quite complex. Similarly, (potential spoilers ahead) Elizabeth Zott's daughter, Mad Zott, was apparently born a genius straight out the womb with complete knowledge of the world. It was hard to believe that a 4 year old child was THAT intelligent and savvy about the world, yet was treated like any normal child by her own mother.
In all, Lessons in Chemistry is an accessible, enjoyable novel with a few quirky things that don't quite work. It is definitely worth a read if you plan on watching the Apple TV series, which is quite well done. I myself both read and watched the series simultaneously, so I was able to completely get absorbed in Elizabeth Zott's world.
So, let's start with the good. Author Bonnie Garmus envelops readers in science, making chemistry almost a character of its own in her book. As someone whose worst subject in school WAS chemistry, I appreciated that Garmus did not lose me entirely as she invited me into main character Elizabeth Zott's world. As a fan of historical fiction, I also enjoyed how Garmus brought the 1950s and early 1960s to life, complete with the many hurdles and hoops women had to jump over and through to be deemed relevant and noteworthy. I especially loved the cooking show aspect of the novel, which was just a lot of fun and a breath of fresh air.
On the other hand, I will be the first to say that Elizabeth Zott is an entirely unlikeable character. Unfortunately, I prefer to relate to and like the characters I am reading about, so Elizabeth Zott rubbed me the wrong way more times than I could count. Furthermore, Lessons in Chemistry required me to suspend disbelief on several occasions, as Garmus used a few unusual plot devices and storylines. For one, Elizabeth Zott's dog Six-Thirty becomes a primary character in the novel. Don't get me wrong - I love dogs, especially dogs that survive to the end of the story - but through omnipresent narration, Garmus treated Six-Thirty as human, inviting readers into his innermost thoughts and workings, which I must say, were quite complex. Similarly, (potential spoilers ahead) Elizabeth Zott's daughter, Mad Zott, was apparently born a genius straight out the womb with complete knowledge of the world. It was hard to believe that a 4 year old child was THAT intelligent and savvy about the world, yet was treated like any normal child by her own mother.
In all, Lessons in Chemistry is an accessible, enjoyable novel with a few quirky things that don't quite work. It is definitely worth a read if you plan on watching the Apple TV series, which is quite well done. I myself both read and watched the series simultaneously, so I was able to completely get absorbed in Elizabeth Zott's world.
Clover Hendry's Day Off by Beth Morrey
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Beth Morrey’s Clover Hendry’s Day Off is billed as a novel that will be relatable to moms, wives, and professionals everywhere, written in the vein of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Finally reaching the boiling point of her life, Clover Hendry throws away all responsibility and takes a day to herself … but that’s where this potentially amusing novel goes all wrong.
When you imagine a middle-aged woman indulging in a little self-care, you might envision her getting beauty treatments, indulging in a calorie-laden lunch, or going on a no holds barred shopping spree. Sure, Clover does all of that … and more. And it’s the “and more” that’s a problem.
Clover apparently has a spiteful, vile, drug-abusing criminal lurking inside of her, because when given a day to herself, she chooses to lash out at other people, partake in illegal acts, use narcotics on multiple occasions, and give zero “you know whats.” The “real” clover Hendry is nasty and foul, and I want nothing to do with her. If this is the woman she has been keeping hidden away from the rest of the world, then great, because she has no place among the rest of us.
My immense dislike of Clover ruined this book for me. It was a slog to get through, and despite a few entertaining moments, the book, overall, was a drag. Not to mention I HATED the audiobook version of this novel. The narrator used to most obnoxious vocal effects to tell this story, and I found myself saying “shut up” (out loud!) on multiple occasions.
When you imagine a middle-aged woman indulging in a little self-care, you might envision her getting beauty treatments, indulging in a calorie-laden lunch, or going on a no holds barred shopping spree. Sure, Clover does all of that … and more. And it’s the “and more” that’s a problem.
Clover apparently has a spiteful, vile, drug-abusing criminal lurking inside of her, because when given a day to herself, she chooses to lash out at other people, partake in illegal acts, use narcotics on multiple occasions, and give zero “you know whats.” The “real” clover Hendry is nasty and foul, and I want nothing to do with her. If this is the woman she has been keeping hidden away from the rest of the world, then great, because she has no place among the rest of us.
My immense dislike of Clover ruined this book for me. It was a slog to get through, and despite a few entertaining moments, the book, overall, was a drag. Not to mention I HATED the audiobook version of this novel. The narrator used to most obnoxious vocal effects to tell this story, and I found myself saying “shut up” (out loud!) on multiple occasions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Rape
Self-Care Activities for Women: 101 Practical Ways to Slow Down and Reconnect With Yourself by Cicely Horsham-Brathwaite
informative
medium-paced
3.0
As someone who spent the last year pursuing self-care in all of its forms, I am well-versed in the practice. Therefore Cicely Horsham-Brathwaite’s new book, Self-Care Activities for Women, did not open my eyes to anything new, but rather reaffirmed my knowledge that the included activities are generally advised when seeking self-care.
Written as an actionable guide and divided into sections; such as Emotional, Social, and Professional Self-Care; Horsham-Brathwaite provides the exact steps that a woman needs to follow to engage in that particular activity. While some readers may appreciate such precise advice, I found the writing to be a bit clinical and forced. Horsham-Brathwaite even provides phrases for women to say to themselves as they complete a particular activity, which came across as really awkward to me; however, to each their own - the phrases may actually be useful to some women, just not to me.
In all, this book provides some good self-care activities, but the prescribed steps may be a bit boxed in for some readers; however, those who are well-versed in self-care can use the activities as a jumping off point for making them their own.
Written as an actionable guide and divided into sections; such as Emotional, Social, and Professional Self-Care; Horsham-Brathwaite provides the exact steps that a woman needs to follow to engage in that particular activity. While some readers may appreciate such precise advice, I found the writing to be a bit clinical and forced. Horsham-Brathwaite even provides phrases for women to say to themselves as they complete a particular activity, which came across as really awkward to me; however, to each their own - the phrases may actually be useful to some women, just not to me.
In all, this book provides some good self-care activities, but the prescribed steps may be a bit boxed in for some readers; however, those who are well-versed in self-care can use the activities as a jumping off point for making them their own.
You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened by Amy Weinland Daughters
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.0
When asked that age-old question, “If time travel existed, would you rather travel to the past or future,” I always pick the past. I have a great nostalgia for times gone by and am curious for the way things were. Amy Weinland Daughters takes time travel one step further in her memoir-novel hybrid, You Cannot Mess This Up. In this novel, a 46-year-old Amy travels back to 1978 and spends Thanksgiving with her 10-year-old self (posing as a long-lost cousin.)
With such an intriguing premise, You Cannot Mess This Up is set-up for greatness just on storytelling opportunity alone. What would it be like to meet the child you were? As a former teacher, I often wonder about what I was like as a child, only being able to catch glimpses of my former self from grainy home movies. If we could meet ourselves, would we like ourselves? Would we be able to see our future selves waiting within?
You Cannot Mess This Up is filled with hilarity and awkwardness, while at the same time being incredibly poignant and nostalgic. I connected with Daughters on many passages as she expressed the exact same things I have been feeling and pondering as a now 40-year-old woman evaluating my life. And although I was not yet born in 1978, I greatly enjoyed seeing the year brought back to life in You Cannot Mess This Up, as my own mother graduated from high school in 1978, so I have often heard her talk about it.
On the other hand, You Cannot Mess This Up reads as somewhat of a catharsis for Daughters. As I read this novel, I imagined Daughters wrote this book as a way of working through her feelings and questions about her family and life. I say this because Daughters overflows this novel with personal details, many of which are not particularly important or relevant to the reader, but that would be of great interest to Daughters’ own family. This book would do well to be largely edited down to move at a faster clip and reworked to appeal to broader audience. While many of the details and musings Daughters includes would work well for an actual memoir, they muddle the story in novel form.
Recommended to anyone who has ever been curious about their past or who has a fascination with the late 70s!
With such an intriguing premise, You Cannot Mess This Up is set-up for greatness just on storytelling opportunity alone. What would it be like to meet the child you were? As a former teacher, I often wonder about what I was like as a child, only being able to catch glimpses of my former self from grainy home movies. If we could meet ourselves, would we like ourselves? Would we be able to see our future selves waiting within?
You Cannot Mess This Up is filled with hilarity and awkwardness, while at the same time being incredibly poignant and nostalgic. I connected with Daughters on many passages as she expressed the exact same things I have been feeling and pondering as a now 40-year-old woman evaluating my life. And although I was not yet born in 1978, I greatly enjoyed seeing the year brought back to life in You Cannot Mess This Up, as my own mother graduated from high school in 1978, so I have often heard her talk about it.
On the other hand, You Cannot Mess This Up reads as somewhat of a catharsis for Daughters. As I read this novel, I imagined Daughters wrote this book as a way of working through her feelings and questions about her family and life. I say this because Daughters overflows this novel with personal details, many of which are not particularly important or relevant to the reader, but that would be of great interest to Daughters’ own family. This book would do well to be largely edited down to move at a faster clip and reworked to appeal to broader audience. While many of the details and musings Daughters includes would work well for an actual memoir, they muddle the story in novel form.
Recommended to anyone who has ever been curious about their past or who has a fascination with the late 70s!
The Silence in Her Eyes by Armando Lucas Correa
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Armando Lucas Correa's new novel The Silence in Her Eyes is a noir-esque story with an interesting premise. The main character Leah suffers from akinetopsia, which prevents her from seeing movement. Leah is not blind, per say, but she can only see the world around her if it stands completely still. As it is, Leah's senses of hearing and smell are heightened, enabling her to experience the world in a way quite unlike the rest of us.
When Leah has a new neighbor, Alice, move into the apartment next to hers, she begins to suspect that Alice is in trouble due to the arguments she hears happening next door in the middle of the night. Leah suspects it is Alice's estranged husband causing trouble, and begins to associate the bergamot smell she picks up on in the middle of the night to him. After Leah befriends Alice in attempt to provide her some support and comfort, she notices that the bergamot scent seems to follow her everywhere. Is it possible that Leah is the one who is really in danger?
The Silence in Her Eyes is one of those slow-burning suspense novels where nothing too out of the ordinary seems to be happening ... until it is. This novel starts off strongly, introducing readers to Leah's decidedly unique world and building tension through the effects of Leah's heightened senses. However, the novel starts to lose steam toward the middle, slowing down and meandering without really going anywhere. The point of the story gets muddled and loses itself to superfluous detail and choppy, disjointed writing. However, The Silence in Her Eyes ends strongly, pulling out twists that I did not see coming. It is truly the incredulous end of the book that saved it for me, bumping this up to a 4 star read.
When Leah has a new neighbor, Alice, move into the apartment next to hers, she begins to suspect that Alice is in trouble due to the arguments she hears happening next door in the middle of the night. Leah suspects it is Alice's estranged husband causing trouble, and begins to associate the bergamot smell she picks up on in the middle of the night to him. After Leah befriends Alice in attempt to provide her some support and comfort, she notices that the bergamot scent seems to follow her everywhere. Is it possible that Leah is the one who is really in danger?
The Silence in Her Eyes is one of those slow-burning suspense novels where nothing too out of the ordinary seems to be happening ... until it is. This novel starts off strongly, introducing readers to Leah's decidedly unique world and building tension through the effects of Leah's heightened senses. However, the novel starts to lose steam toward the middle, slowing down and meandering without really going anywhere. The point of the story gets muddled and loses itself to superfluous detail and choppy, disjointed writing. However, The Silence in Her Eyes ends strongly, pulling out twists that I did not see coming. It is truly the incredulous end of the book that saved it for me, bumping this up to a 4 star read.
Firsts and Lasts by Laura Silverman, Kika Hatzopoulou
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This isn't the first YA short story collection edited by Laura Silverman that I have read. I love a good theme, and I especially love how these anthologies always revolve around one. In the case of Firsts and Lasts, this coming of age collection explores the first and last experiences of teens as they set off to embark on their adult lives. Divided into two sections - Firsts and Lasts - these stories cover a wide variety of experiences - both those grounded in reality and others sprinkled with fantasy.
As for my personal reading experience, I definitely preferred the "Lasts" collection of stories better than the "Firsts." The "Lasts" stories were more creatively done and explored a variety of experiences, whereas the "Firsts" stories primarily featured LGBTQIA relationships. While relationships are certainly an important part of any teen's life, multiple stories on the same general subject get stale when you are fed them one after another. The stories in "Lasts," however, included everything from dinosaurs, to arena fighting, to purity balls, to murder.
FIRSTS
The First Time I Dated a Vampire by Julian Winters (2 stars) - A gay teenage movie buff who is grieving the loss of his father, finds acceptance, and possibly love, by way of the literal vampire who works at his local movie theater.
Unfortunately, there is nothing entirely memorable about this story. It feels like it was written to check off a social issues checklist, rather than to tell an engaging story.
-----
The First Day of College by Monica Gomez-Hira (4 stars) - A Colombian American college freshman with her family in tow, moves into her dorm and learns about family ties and heritage.
This is a touching coming-of-age story about looking to the future, but also remembering everything we leave behind. Authentically-written, it also includes a vibrant cast of characters.
-----
The First Kiss by Nina Moreno (3 stars) - A witch casts a spell to find love on her birthday (which also happens to be on Halloween), but things don’t play out quite as expected.
I enjoyed the Halloween/spooky vibes of this story, but questioned why Moreno chose to make her female lead bisexual, yet her crushes were all male. Why not just make her straight?
-----
The First Time We Buried a Body by Tess Sharpe (4 stars) - When a teenager commits murder to protect her friend from assault, the two girls are left with a body they need to bury.
This story is engaging and entertaining, but I am a bit worried about how the story is written as if resorting to murder was the only choice in this situation.
-----
The First Breakup by Anna Meriano (3 stars) - A girl navigates her first breakup in the search of something more.
A bit of self-discovery as the main character learns what it is she wants out of life and love is what unfolds in this story. While good, the story is pretty vanilla fare and is not quite memorable enough.
-----
The First Time I Saw the Stars by Shaun David Hutchinson (2 stars) - When an alien lands on a future Earth, it connects with a boy who has been struggling with his mental health.
Despite many readers loving this story, I just couldn’t get into it! I found it confusing to be thrown into an unfamiliar setting right off the bat, and it took me awhile to gather what was going on in this story. There were also a few distasteful sexual references that I didn’t care for.
-----
The First Crush by Keah Brown (2 stars) - A girl grapples with a way to fell her friend that she has feelings for her.
This story is all about friendship, but also falling in love with your friends. Unfortunately, it had to much going on for a short story and I kept losing interest.
-----
The First Job by Yamile Saied Mendez (3 stars) - When her long-time high school boyfriend makes out with her best friend, a girl struggles to navigate her small town on her own before finding her place.
I felt like this story was written with all of the angst and immaturity that scorned teenagers possess. I like that the main character’s first job ends up being a haunted house - it adds a fun Halloween vibe to this story.
-----
LASTS
The Last Dinosaur by Laura Silverman (5 stars) - When a young girl encounters a lone dinosaur while hiking the Appalachian Trail with her family, she makes a friend for life.
I always really enjoy Laura Silverman’s contributions in these short story collections. This story was a breath of fresh air. I was so glad that it didn’t deal with relationships and identity. Just a poignant, yet at the same time, fun, story involving a girl and her dinosaur.
-----
The Last Purity Ball by Joy McCullough (5 stars) - A girl who is attempting to plan a Purity Ball while also juggling her ever-intensifying feelings for her boyfriend, has to juggle both what she wants to do with what she feels is expected of her.
I found this story to be really engaging, and I was entertained throughout. It was a bit stereotypical and predictable, but overall, it contained some good lessons.
-----
The Last Bout by Amanda Joy (5 stars) - Two girls with mystical powers battle it out in an arena event.
This was the first story that I thought would work really well as a full-length novel. I appreciated Joy’s ability to world-build and layer on detail in just a few pages. Didn’t care for the romance side of things, but the battle and character attributes was really neat.
-----
The Last Days in the Only Place That Felt Like Home by Adi Alsaid (4 stars) - A teenage girl with a transient family is tired of always having to start over, but thinks she has found something worth holding onto when she discovers a magical time-warping fountain.
This was a touching story about trying to make a home for one’s self. I really enjoyed the magical element included in the story as well - it added a nice touch of fun.
-----
The (Hopefully) Last Demon Summoning by Kika Hatzopoulou (2 stars) - A group of friends about to diverge on their own paths accidentally summon a demon during their last hurrah.
I almost skipped over this story because I just couldn’t get into it. The characters end up being supernatural beings, which threw me off and just made things confusing. There was too much superfluous detail involved in this story, in my opinion.
-----
The Last Goodbye by Loan Le (3 stars) - A young girl connects with her mother over a drug addiction death in their past.
This story had a bit of a supernatural element to it, which isn’t my favorite. I had a hard time getting into this story, although I do think it was well done.
-----
The Last Concert by Rachel Lynn Solomon (4 stars) - A group of high school friends in a band prepare for their last performance.
This story was fun and nostalgic all at the same time. It gave off good vibes, and I enjoyed the friendships among the band members.
-----
The Last Time I Saw Her Alive (5 stars) - A girl contemplates the last time she saw her best friend alive, before she stole her boyfriend.
Holy plot twist - I did not see that one coming! I had to re-read parts of this story more than once because it completely took me by surprise.
As for my personal reading experience, I definitely preferred the "Lasts" collection of stories better than the "Firsts." The "Lasts" stories were more creatively done and explored a variety of experiences, whereas the "Firsts" stories primarily featured LGBTQIA relationships. While relationships are certainly an important part of any teen's life, multiple stories on the same general subject get stale when you are fed them one after another. The stories in "Lasts," however, included everything from dinosaurs, to arena fighting, to purity balls, to murder.
FIRSTS
The First Time I Dated a Vampire by Julian Winters (2 stars) - A gay teenage movie buff who is grieving the loss of his father, finds acceptance, and possibly love, by way of the literal vampire who works at his local movie theater.
Unfortunately, there is nothing entirely memorable about this story. It feels like it was written to check off a social issues checklist, rather than to tell an engaging story.
-----
The First Day of College by Monica Gomez-Hira (4 stars) - A Colombian American college freshman with her family in tow, moves into her dorm and learns about family ties and heritage.
This is a touching coming-of-age story about looking to the future, but also remembering everything we leave behind. Authentically-written, it also includes a vibrant cast of characters.
-----
The First Kiss by Nina Moreno (3 stars) - A witch casts a spell to find love on her birthday (which also happens to be on Halloween), but things don’t play out quite as expected.
I enjoyed the Halloween/spooky vibes of this story, but questioned why Moreno chose to make her female lead bisexual, yet her crushes were all male. Why not just make her straight?
-----
The First Time We Buried a Body by Tess Sharpe (4 stars) - When a teenager commits murder to protect her friend from assault, the two girls are left with a body they need to bury.
This story is engaging and entertaining, but I am a bit worried about how the story is written as if resorting to murder was the only choice in this situation.
-----
The First Breakup by Anna Meriano (3 stars) - A girl navigates her first breakup in the search of something more.
A bit of self-discovery as the main character learns what it is she wants out of life and love is what unfolds in this story. While good, the story is pretty vanilla fare and is not quite memorable enough.
-----
The First Time I Saw the Stars by Shaun David Hutchinson (2 stars) - When an alien lands on a future Earth, it connects with a boy who has been struggling with his mental health.
Despite many readers loving this story, I just couldn’t get into it! I found it confusing to be thrown into an unfamiliar setting right off the bat, and it took me awhile to gather what was going on in this story. There were also a few distasteful sexual references that I didn’t care for.
-----
The First Crush by Keah Brown (2 stars) - A girl grapples with a way to fell her friend that she has feelings for her.
This story is all about friendship, but also falling in love with your friends. Unfortunately, it had to much going on for a short story and I kept losing interest.
-----
The First Job by Yamile Saied Mendez (3 stars) - When her long-time high school boyfriend makes out with her best friend, a girl struggles to navigate her small town on her own before finding her place.
I felt like this story was written with all of the angst and immaturity that scorned teenagers possess. I like that the main character’s first job ends up being a haunted house - it adds a fun Halloween vibe to this story.
-----
LASTS
The Last Dinosaur by Laura Silverman (5 stars) - When a young girl encounters a lone dinosaur while hiking the Appalachian Trail with her family, she makes a friend for life.
I always really enjoy Laura Silverman’s contributions in these short story collections. This story was a breath of fresh air. I was so glad that it didn’t deal with relationships and identity. Just a poignant, yet at the same time, fun, story involving a girl and her dinosaur.
-----
The Last Purity Ball by Joy McCullough (5 stars) - A girl who is attempting to plan a Purity Ball while also juggling her ever-intensifying feelings for her boyfriend, has to juggle both what she wants to do with what she feels is expected of her.
I found this story to be really engaging, and I was entertained throughout. It was a bit stereotypical and predictable, but overall, it contained some good lessons.
-----
The Last Bout by Amanda Joy (5 stars) - Two girls with mystical powers battle it out in an arena event.
This was the first story that I thought would work really well as a full-length novel. I appreciated Joy’s ability to world-build and layer on detail in just a few pages. Didn’t care for the romance side of things, but the battle and character attributes was really neat.
-----
The Last Days in the Only Place That Felt Like Home by Adi Alsaid (4 stars) - A teenage girl with a transient family is tired of always having to start over, but thinks she has found something worth holding onto when she discovers a magical time-warping fountain.
This was a touching story about trying to make a home for one’s self. I really enjoyed the magical element included in the story as well - it added a nice touch of fun.
-----
The (Hopefully) Last Demon Summoning by Kika Hatzopoulou (2 stars) - A group of friends about to diverge on their own paths accidentally summon a demon during their last hurrah.
I almost skipped over this story because I just couldn’t get into it. The characters end up being supernatural beings, which threw me off and just made things confusing. There was too much superfluous detail involved in this story, in my opinion.
-----
The Last Goodbye by Loan Le (3 stars) - A young girl connects with her mother over a drug addiction death in their past.
This story had a bit of a supernatural element to it, which isn’t my favorite. I had a hard time getting into this story, although I do think it was well done.
-----
The Last Concert by Rachel Lynn Solomon (4 stars) - A group of high school friends in a band prepare for their last performance.
This story was fun and nostalgic all at the same time. It gave off good vibes, and I enjoyed the friendships among the band members.
-----
The Last Time I Saw Her Alive (5 stars) - A girl contemplates the last time she saw her best friend alive, before she stole her boyfriend.
Holy plot twist - I did not see that one coming! I had to re-read parts of this story more than once because it completely took me by surprise.
Man's Best Friend by Alana B. Lytle
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Novels steeped in the toxicity of love are often breeding grounds for all sorts of unsettling feelings, and make for tense, thought-provoking reads. I love a relationship gone all wrong, so I knew that Alana B. Lytle’s debut, Man’s Best Friend, would be a book I would find intriguing.
Featuring the lives of the rich and aimless, Man’s Best Friend follows El, a failed actress, who jumps at the opportunity to get involved with Bryce, who just happens to belong to a wealthy and prominent family. Bryce (who is not particularly El’s type, but will do) opens doors for El, showing her a world that she has only caught glimpses of while hanging out with her (also wealthy) kind-of-sort-of best friends. As El discards more and more pieces of her life in favor of what Bryce has to offer, she isolates herself from everything and everyone that makes her who she is. As time goes on, El begins to wonder if she can truly trust Bryce … or is there something much more nefarious at play here?
Man’s Best Friend gives off major Tell Me Lies (a la Carola Lovering) vibes, and having loved that novel, I was excited about this book too. For the most part, Man’s Best Friend holds up, showcasing how women often lose themselves to codependency in toxic relationships, putting their entire heart and soul into men who will ultimately destroy them. On the other hand, Lytle (fun fact - the author is President Joe Biden’s niece!) doesn’t push the toxicity of this relationship quite far enough for me. Things between Bryce and El stay on fairly solid ground, although major trust issues are at play. While Bryce is no doubt a liar and manipulator, the book focuses more on how those traits manifested in his past relationships and obsessions, rather than in his current one with El.
Regardless, I still felt compelled to keep turning the pages of this dark and ominous read. Filled with characters you will love to hate, Man’s Best Friend exposes the scary side of love … or is it just obsession?
Recommended to fans of Tell Me Lies and You.
Featuring the lives of the rich and aimless, Man’s Best Friend follows El, a failed actress, who jumps at the opportunity to get involved with Bryce, who just happens to belong to a wealthy and prominent family. Bryce (who is not particularly El’s type, but will do) opens doors for El, showing her a world that she has only caught glimpses of while hanging out with her (also wealthy) kind-of-sort-of best friends. As El discards more and more pieces of her life in favor of what Bryce has to offer, she isolates herself from everything and everyone that makes her who she is. As time goes on, El begins to wonder if she can truly trust Bryce … or is there something much more nefarious at play here?
Man’s Best Friend gives off major Tell Me Lies (a la Carola Lovering) vibes, and having loved that novel, I was excited about this book too. For the most part, Man’s Best Friend holds up, showcasing how women often lose themselves to codependency in toxic relationships, putting their entire heart and soul into men who will ultimately destroy them. On the other hand, Lytle (fun fact - the author is President Joe Biden’s niece!) doesn’t push the toxicity of this relationship quite far enough for me. Things between Bryce and El stay on fairly solid ground, although major trust issues are at play. While Bryce is no doubt a liar and manipulator, the book focuses more on how those traits manifested in his past relationships and obsessions, rather than in his current one with El.
Regardless, I still felt compelled to keep turning the pages of this dark and ominous read. Filled with characters you will love to hate, Man’s Best Friend exposes the scary side of love … or is it just obsession?
Recommended to fans of Tell Me Lies and You.
The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What would you consider to be the "good part" of your life? Have you lived it yet, or does it lie somewhere in your future? That's the brilliant idea behind Sophie Cousens' new novel, The Good Part, which follows a down-on-her-luck twenty-six year old Lucy Young as she wishes away her youth in exchange for the "good part" of her life. Lucy wakes up sixteen years later at age 42 to discover that she has a husband, kids, and high profile job ... but at what cost? What happened in those sixteen years that she cannot remember?
As Lucy sets out on a journey of (past) self-discovery, she learns how she came to be her future self. Some parts of her life she loves - her job, her husband, her home ... maybe her kids? - but as she discovers some of the darker things that have happened to her between now and then, she grieves the years, and people, she lost. As Lucy becomes more accustomed to her future life, she has to decide ... does she stay here in the now, or does she try to find her way back to the past?
The Good Part is a fun and fanciful book that manages to also be profound and thought-provoking all at the same time. This novel is an utter delight to read, positing a question that is intriguing to ask - "If the 'good part' of your life was waiting for you in the future, would you skip ahead to it?" I personally would not want to time travel myself, but it makes for a rather enjoyable "no-risk" read.
While much of The Good Part is light-hearted and funny, it also deals with some heavy topics, and relies heavily on self-reflection, as Lucy, who begins the novel as an immature and naïve twenty-something, grows into the woman she was always meant to be. I loved how Cousen used Lucy's "memory loss" as a plot device, revealing "secrets" about Lucy's past to both the reader and Lucy herself at the same time. I found this to be an utterly compelling and page-turning plot device!
On the other hand, Lucy could be a bit insufferable at times, and her son Felix must be some sort of prodigy in the making because he was well-advanced for his age ... I had to suspend disbelief every time he entered a scene because he had the brain and vocabulary of someone much beyond his years.
Recommended to lovers of Melissa Wiesner's The Second Chance Year.
As Lucy sets out on a journey of (past) self-discovery, she learns how she came to be her future self. Some parts of her life she loves - her job, her husband, her home ... maybe her kids? - but as she discovers some of the darker things that have happened to her between now and then, she grieves the years, and people, she lost. As Lucy becomes more accustomed to her future life, she has to decide ... does she stay here in the now, or does she try to find her way back to the past?
The Good Part is a fun and fanciful book that manages to also be profound and thought-provoking all at the same time. This novel is an utter delight to read, positing a question that is intriguing to ask - "If the 'good part' of your life was waiting for you in the future, would you skip ahead to it?" I personally would not want to time travel myself, but it makes for a rather enjoyable "no-risk" read.
While much of The Good Part is light-hearted and funny, it also deals with some heavy topics, and relies heavily on self-reflection, as Lucy, who begins the novel as an immature and naïve twenty-something, grows into the woman she was always meant to be. I loved how Cousen used Lucy's "memory loss" as a plot device, revealing "secrets" about Lucy's past to both the reader and Lucy herself at the same time. I found this to be an utterly compelling and page-turning plot device!
On the other hand, Lucy could be a bit insufferable at times, and her son Felix must be some sort of prodigy in the making because he was well-advanced for his age ... I had to suspend disbelief every time he entered a scene because he had the brain and vocabulary of someone much beyond his years.
Recommended to lovers of Melissa Wiesner's The Second Chance Year.
The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done by Kendra Adachi
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
Finally, a self-help book that actually helps! Kendra Adachi’s The Lazy Genius Way is just the book I needed to view my life through a new, kinder lens and apply tips and tricks to help everything function better.
What makes The Lazy Genius Way stand apart from other self-help manuals is that Kendra does not just babble on about her own life, effectively shutting out the reader by showing only one way to accomplish your goals. Rather, Kendra presents 13 guiding principles to live life the “lazy genius way.” Lazy geniuses still get things done, but they do it by focusing on what matters. When you put effort into the things that matter and ditch the things that don’t, you will find that you are happier and more fulfilled. That’s what Kendra’s book is all about.
I found Kendra’s 13 principles to be totally accessible. Her principles are meant to guide you as you navigate your life, and can be applied in a variety of circumstances, no matter what life throws at you. She gives advice such as deciding once (such as determining that every Tuesday is Mexican dinner night at home) to give your brain more room to focus on the things that matter. Asking the magic question, which is “What can I do now to make later run smoother?”, is a way to show future self a little compassion. The answer to the magic question might include chopping vegetables for the upcoming week’s dinners on Sunday, or laying out your clothes for work the night before. That is just a sampling, but all 13 of Kendra’s principles hold real value in the lives of today’s modern woman and are frankly, life-changing.
I felt renewed after reading The Lazy Genius Way. As I read, I immediately started looking for ways to be a “genius about the things that matter, and lazy about the things that don’t” in my own life. The Lazy Genius Way has revolutionized the way I approach the minutiae of life, and has inspired me to focus my time and effort on the things that are truly important to me.
What makes The Lazy Genius Way stand apart from other self-help manuals is that Kendra does not just babble on about her own life, effectively shutting out the reader by showing only one way to accomplish your goals. Rather, Kendra presents 13 guiding principles to live life the “lazy genius way.” Lazy geniuses still get things done, but they do it by focusing on what matters. When you put effort into the things that matter and ditch the things that don’t, you will find that you are happier and more fulfilled. That’s what Kendra’s book is all about.
I found Kendra’s 13 principles to be totally accessible. Her principles are meant to guide you as you navigate your life, and can be applied in a variety of circumstances, no matter what life throws at you. She gives advice such as deciding once (such as determining that every Tuesday is Mexican dinner night at home) to give your brain more room to focus on the things that matter. Asking the magic question, which is “What can I do now to make later run smoother?”, is a way to show future self a little compassion. The answer to the magic question might include chopping vegetables for the upcoming week’s dinners on Sunday, or laying out your clothes for work the night before. That is just a sampling, but all 13 of Kendra’s principles hold real value in the lives of today’s modern woman and are frankly, life-changing.
I felt renewed after reading The Lazy Genius Way. As I read, I immediately started looking for ways to be a “genius about the things that matter, and lazy about the things that don’t” in my own life. The Lazy Genius Way has revolutionized the way I approach the minutiae of life, and has inspired me to focus my time and effort on the things that are truly important to me.
Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness by Pooja Lakshmin
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
"Real self-care is not a thing to do - it's a way to be."
Psychiatrist Pooja Lakshmin revolutionizes the concept of self-care in her debut self-help book, Real Self-Care. Ask any woman today what self-care is, and she will likely throw out something along the lines of bubble baths, indulging in dessert, or clicking "add to cart" at her favorite online shop. While these behaviors might make the overextended modern woman feel better in the moment, they are not a solution to the troubles that cause women to need self-care in the first place.
This is where Dr. Lakshmin comes in. Through her book Real Self-Care, she teaches women in need of a little TLC how to change their lives through practices such as establishing boundaries and offering themselves self-compassion. If you do the work presented in Real Self-Care, Lakshmin promises that you will come out happier and more fulfilled, with the benefits far outweighing those that temporary fixes commonly thought of as self-care can provide.
I found Real Self-Care to be quite eye-opening. Having spent the previous year attempting to take better care of myself, yet coming out of it feeling a bit disenchanted by the whole concept of self-care, I realized I was doing it all wrong after reading Lakshmin's book. If I want to make true change in my overall well-being, I need to change the way I am being. Real Self-Care helps you establish a foundation to build on caring for yourself, and provides you with the tools you need to get there.
While this book presents a lot of valuable information, the delivery became a bit stale and boring for me at times. I do not enjoy case studies/clinical examples, and there are quite a few in this book. However, the general basis of this guide is sound and worth taking a look at if you are feeling burnt out and in need of a change.
Psychiatrist Pooja Lakshmin revolutionizes the concept of self-care in her debut self-help book, Real Self-Care. Ask any woman today what self-care is, and she will likely throw out something along the lines of bubble baths, indulging in dessert, or clicking "add to cart" at her favorite online shop. While these behaviors might make the overextended modern woman feel better in the moment, they are not a solution to the troubles that cause women to need self-care in the first place.
This is where Dr. Lakshmin comes in. Through her book Real Self-Care, she teaches women in need of a little TLC how to change their lives through practices such as establishing boundaries and offering themselves self-compassion. If you do the work presented in Real Self-Care, Lakshmin promises that you will come out happier and more fulfilled, with the benefits far outweighing those that temporary fixes commonly thought of as self-care can provide.
I found Real Self-Care to be quite eye-opening. Having spent the previous year attempting to take better care of myself, yet coming out of it feeling a bit disenchanted by the whole concept of self-care, I realized I was doing it all wrong after reading Lakshmin's book. If I want to make true change in my overall well-being, I need to change the way I am being. Real Self-Care helps you establish a foundation to build on caring for yourself, and provides you with the tools you need to get there.
While this book presents a lot of valuable information, the delivery became a bit stale and boring for me at times. I do not enjoy case studies/clinical examples, and there are quite a few in this book. However, the general basis of this guide is sound and worth taking a look at if you are feeling burnt out and in need of a change.