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joyfulfoodie's reviews
324 reviews
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Despite the depressing title, I started this book somehow believing it was going to be a bit more comedic. What I found instead was a poignant and difficult read, wringing emotion out but impossible to put aside. I have not had the misfortune of burying a parent yet, but this story is still incredibly relatable. I relived grief over the very recent death of my cat and the grandfather I was closest to, whose anniversary of his death recently passed. I’m not sure if I could have managed the book if my mother was sick or had already died. The very detailed descriptions of life for caregivers and the aftermath of loss was a lot to take.
I will likely be thinking about this one for awhile. Well written, moving.
I will likely be thinking about this one for awhile. Well written, moving.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Racism and Abortion
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
<strong>Life altering read</strong>
You may think you know the story from having seen the movie. You really really don’t.
The statistics alone make this a meaningful read. The insight into the shared trauma of black America is staggering.
Both a data driven book and a beautifully crafted narrative of lives lost and reclaimed from the very broken justice system, this is a book you feel deeply and will think about for a long time after putting it down.
You may think you know the story from having seen the movie. You really really don’t.
The statistics alone make this a meaningful read. The insight into the shared trauma of black America is staggering.
Both a data driven book and a beautifully crafted narrative of lives lost and reclaimed from the very broken justice system, this is a book you feel deeply and will think about for a long time after putting it down.
The Home Edit Life by Clea Shearer, Joanna Teplin
fast-paced
2.75
<strong>Slight improvement over their first book, but pretty similar </strong>
This one dug a little deeper in the process than the first book did, but it still feels like a curated Instagram in book form. Lots of pretty pictures, not a lot of feeling empowered to do any of it on my own. Though Ido feel encouraged to spend about a thousand dollars at the container store on THE branded merch.
This one dug a little deeper in the process than the first book did, but it still feels like a curated Instagram in book form. Lots of pretty pictures, not a lot of feeling empowered to do any of it on my own. Though Ido feel encouraged to spend about a thousand dollars at the container store on THE branded merch.
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri
challenging
dark
informative
sad
fast-paced
4.25
This is a pretty fast read, in graphic novel form. That doesn’t make it easy. A very sad story about gang violence in Chicago’s southside in the early 1990’s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Abandonment
A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I had several friends that had read this series and enjoyed it, and I love mythology, so it seemed like a good match.
I really enjoyed the way the gods are modernized and the twist given to their classic personalities.
The intimacy is written to be a little …. I don’t know it’s like an odd intersection between rather graphic and full of euphemisms (lots of “bundle of nerves” and “her core” instead of naming the anatomy. It works, but it isn’t the most sophisticated way to handle the scenes. Most of the novel felt like solid young adult fiction, but those scenes were a little more like fanfic. Fanfic is great, I’ve read plenty, it just has a certain audience. If you are used to different styles of romance novels that might not appeal.
I really enjoyed the way the gods are modernized and the twist given to their classic personalities.
The intimacy is written to be a little …. I don’t know it’s like an odd intersection between rather graphic and full of euphemisms (lots of “bundle of nerves” and “her core” instead of naming the anatomy. It works, but it isn’t the most sophisticated way to handle the scenes. Most of the novel felt like solid young adult fiction, but those scenes were a little more like fanfic. Fanfic is great, I’ve read plenty, it just has a certain audience. If you are used to different styles of romance novels that might not appeal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
Hopscotch by Kevin J. Anderson
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I first read this book shortly after it was published. It has lived rent free in my brain ever since, so I decided it was time I reread it.
Most significantly I was obsessed with how gender and sex are portrayed in this book. You are the gender that your brain says you are, and you just occupy male or female bodies for a time. For my non-binary and trans friends, this seems pretty ideal. Don’t feel like your body matches your identity? Hop to a new one. And while I don’t have “penis envy” I find the idea of being able to experience sex from both sides to be delightful. It would also be nice to be able to swap bodies to match the needs of a specific task/job, or due to exhaustion when a task/job must continue.
Most significantly I was obsessed with how gender and sex are portrayed in this book. You are the gender that your brain says you are, and you just occupy male or female bodies for a time. For my non-binary and trans friends, this seems pretty ideal. Don’t feel like your body matches your identity? Hop to a new one. And while I don’t have “penis envy” I find the idea of being able to experience sex from both sides to be delightful. It would also be nice to be able to swap bodies to match the needs of a specific task/job, or due to exhaustion when a task/job must continue.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Dysphoria
Minor: Body shaming, Chronic illness, and Medical trauma
Husband Material by Alexis Hall
emotional
funny
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
I liked Boyfriend Material better. This book sees the characters two years later and more settled into their relationship. Some of the drama feels legit and needed, some of the drama seems forced to make a conflict happen at the right stage of the book. Because of some of this forced drama, I did not expect the book to end the way it did. Didn't love or hate the ending, it was just kind of like Ok well I guess this book is done. I am not disappointed I read it, it was nice having more time with these characters, and there are many highlightable lines and moments.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder
A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a steamy romance.
Some descriptions of my issues with the relationship progression, which might be kinda spoilery? behind this cut.
There are some times where his aggressive style might border on assault, for some that are affected by such situations. There is clear consent, but also… some things rush. It works for these particular characters in this particular case, but be aware if you are sensitive to that in your reading material.
There is also a scene where they discuss the birth control question after the deed is done, and he’s like oh yeah I assumed you were on the pill. Hmm. Considering how much of the book focuses on lying and trust issues, that bothered me.
Some descriptions of my issues with the relationship progression, which might be kinda spoilery? behind this cut.
There are some times where his aggressive style might border on assault, for some that are affected by such situations. There is clear consent, but also… some things rush. It works for these particular characters in this particular case, but be aware if you are sensitive to that in your reading material.
There is also a scene where they discuss the birth control question after the deed is done, and he’s like oh yeah I assumed you were on the pill. Hmm. Considering how much of the book focuses on lying and trust issues, that bothered me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy and Toxic friendship
Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Not marking as spoilers because all that was on the book jacket/summary. If you skip those, than skip my review.
This book had moments for me. There were lines I loved and morals of the story I related to. But mostly I found the topics of this set of essays to be depressing. I found that while I understood most of Sedaris’ comments about life during COVID lockdown, it wasn’t something I really enjoyed reading about. Hearing about the final days with a possibly abusing father wasn’t a hoot for me either.
This book had moments for me. There were lines I loved and morals of the story I related to. But mostly I found the topics of this set of essays to be depressing. I found that while I understood most of Sedaris’ comments about life during COVID lockdown, it wasn’t something I really enjoyed reading about. Hearing about the final days with a possibly abusing father wasn’t a hoot for me either.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Suicide, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
Minor: Excrement
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
This book was adorable. Sweet and beautiful and perfect. I loved the diverse cast of characters, that the only romance was lgbt, and that said romance was fluffy and child friendly. Not all lgbt romance should be a roll in the sheets; I would gladly recommend this book to middle school students. It’s messages of acceptance are for everyone.