justinkhchen's reviews
571 reviews

A steamy romance 'anime', Not Another Love Song is a solid sophomore effort after Forget Me Not (the ordering is a tad muddled since parts of this novel have existed prior to being re-worked for traditional publishing—so technically this is kind of a 'debut' as well?); a little ridiculous, larger-than-life (hence the reference to the colorful, bombastic Japanese animation in the beginning), and hornier comparing to Forget Me Not, but with all the strengths we already come to expect coming from Julie Soto: emotive writing (and sensual/sexual when called for), purposeful and heartfelt incorporation of its symbolism (music), and the dynamic arcs experienced by its cast.

The romance is ever so slightly overshadowed by intrigues of the music industry (how to drive up sales, marketing ploys, etc.), but I find it to be equally fascinating. On the other hand, the exaggerated, cartoony portrayal of its hero and heroine could be a little off-putting, especially comparing to the more grounded counterparts in Forget Me Not (I immediately picture Gwen and Xander as manga characters with googly eyes rather than real people). But aside from the slight stylistic differences, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading Not Another Love Song—really reminds me of Nodame Cantabile, and now I'm craving some classical music!

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**

A satirical look at Hollywood through the lens of horror, Bury Your Gays is an incredible effort from Chuck Tingle, weaving vivid imagination, snarky humor, and candid commentary through a tale about an industry striving for success at no cost. Thanks to the snappy writing and showbiz setting, the story feels very 'glitzed-up' and stylish, which is further enhanced in its audiobook via a full cast (incredibly, consists of numerous contemporary horror authors!) and sound effects in the select interludes sprinkled throughout. Tonally, this novel is reminiscent of the film The Neon Demon by Nicolas Winding Refn, a visual feast of a horror film about the modeling industry.

Similar to Camp Damascus, the horror element of Bury Your Gays takes a turn towards its third act, but this time around its genre-blending is less jarring, and better incorporated within its context. All in all, Bury Your Gays is a relentlessly layered story that should satisfy fans of horror (many elements from its sub-genres make their appearances), pop culture enthusiasts, and readers who love a good story with heart.

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**

Giving me all the feels, if you're looking for a historical romance laser-focused on the journey of a romantic relationship, Where Dreams Begin really knocks it out of the park with its two dimensional heroine/hero, endearing side characters, and the thoroughly emotional/sensual writing. Even though the overarching plot is stereotypical and predictable, there are enough bespoke moments that feel unique and handcrafted for the story (the constant compare/contrast between the hero/late husband, the daughter's button collecting habit, etc.).

Reason why this is not getting a full 5-stars is really down to personal preference: the absence of a secondary plot beyond the romance—it's missing that additional external conflict to make this a truly well-rounded story (imagine if there's a plot about the hero's business being challenged). It is the reason why a lot of the genre favorites haven't worked for me in the past (such as Nobody's Dukeby Scarlett Scott, and anything by Lorraine Heath); but as a whole Where Dreams Begin might be the best iteration of this specific style of storytelling I've read so far.

***Historical Hellions Book Club | July 2024 Selection***

A melancholic suburban mystery, for someone who's releasing novels on a schedule, Riley Sager still manages to diversify his output. Middle of the Night is quite a departure tonally from his last couple releases, rather than the expected over-the-top camp, he aims for a much more muted and character-driven approach. This one might be the least 'thrillery' work of his, and feels less like a summer 'fun' read due to its emphasis on grief, but at the same time it is still well-structured and immersive to dive into.

Riley Sager has always been excellent at generating a storied environment, and this one is no different — a secluded cul-de-sac butted against a mysterious, ancient institution. However, as the plot moves towards its ultimate destination, the intriguing settings gradually revealed to be mostly red herrings, and the 'truth' is much more mundane than the misdirection along the way. One can certainly argue 'evil lurks in the ordinary', but when the core event ends up having only a superficial connection to its location, I can't help but imagining a punchier story line that utilizes its setting to the fullest.

Middle of the Night is definitely one of the more emotional (even a tad melodramatic at times) story Riley Sager has written, for once what I recall from the novel after reading are some of its character moments, rather than the twists and reveal. Even though this one is not ranking high from the perspective of bingeable entertainment (it's too downbeat and placid as a thrill-seeking, fast read), I still appreciate the atmosphere, layered storytelling, and its mixture of mystery and paranormal. Can't wait to see what Riley Sager will bring next summer!

**The Book Troop Book Club July 2024 Selection**

Relentlessly atmospheric, experimental with obvious flaws, Incidents Around the House is unapologetically written for the devoted horror fans; immediate point of reference comes to mind is the 2022 horror film Skinamarink, which utilizes a similar overarching tropes: intentionally obscure narrative through a child's POV. While the novel successfully delivers on scares, tension, and a sense of dread, I can also see it being criticized for being overly vague, lacking a traditional narrative arc, and an inconclusive ending — some of which I actually consider to be the story's strength, while others might be areas where the novel should've gone through a few more rounds of refinement.

One of my favorite Josh Malerman stories is A House at the Bottom of a Lake, and this feels like a continuation of that writing style — where the horror element can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically. With the concept of innocence and parenthood being repeatedly brought up, it is easy to make correlation between these subject matters and the supernatural presence (the writing even encourages it at times). But then there will be outlier scenes where they can only be read as one way rather than open for analysis... The lack of consistency is where I bump into some frustrations with Incidents Around the House's narrative — I wish the author's intent is made a little more clear.

Still, I commend Josh Malerman for pushing the boundary and writing outside the box, as Incidents Around the House contains some of the more original, grotesque imagery, and genuinely chilling sequences (people you are talking to is not who you think they are never cease to scare me). Yes, while this novel (at least my experience with it) has trouble deciding whether to be metaphorical or literal, and would potentially work better as a novella, it is already one of the more memorable reads of this year!

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**

Delightful, but not a new favorite, Deception has the foundation of an adventure-driven historical romance I've come to expect from Amanda Quick, but the final outcome feels a little tame comparing to other titles I picked up prior.

The positives: I really enjoy both the hero and heroine: Jared as a levelheaded, punctual 'pirate' completely turns the stereotype (crass, big emotions) we've come to expect on its head, and the fact he's described to look exactly like a typical pirate adds the additional comical touch. Staying true to Amanda Quick's preference for strong female heroine, Olympia's book-smart more than compensates for her lack of real-life experience, and she's often more than willing to stand her ground rather than becoming frazzled or annoyingly ignorant. I also pick up narrative cues from Mary Poppins (Jared being a tutor to a chaotic household) and The Sound of Music (heroine softening a stoic hero)—which are all inspired reference points I appreciate. Lastly, I was pleasantly shocked by certain 'reveals'—did not expect such subject matter being highlighted with such nonjudgmental attitude from a 90s publication!

The letdown: Amanda Quick historical romances is for me either a spirited romp, or woven with an engaging mystery; while Deception IS centering around treasure hunting, the progression is placid and static (lots of reviewing/decoding paper materials). Even the obstacles encountered throughout are low-stake, and I find the villain reveal to be particularly obvious, and the least interesting out of all the potentials. While I like both Jared and Olympia, their romance lacks spark—it is almost too levelheaded in a story that is already filled with talking and not enough action.

Deception is still plenty readable, as it fulfills my thirst for a decent historical romance. But as far as Amanda Quick's titles go, this one will rank low among others I've read (not by a large margin, I should emphasize). A little more 'domestic' and less adventurous, but the decent premise and a collection of colorful secondary characters (I ship Mrs. Bird and Graves!) still make this one worthwhile overall.

***Historical Hellions Book Club | August 2024 Selection***

Comforting like a warm hug, I've been following Adam Hattan's YouTube channel for years, so it definitely piqued my interest when he announced he was venturing into writing — I'm happy to say Hiding Him is a worthy first-time effort that encapsulates the positivity and casual humor that have been a staple in his online presence.

As a longtime viewer to Adam's content, there's an extra layer of delights as there are numerous recurring video references sprinkled throughout. The coming-of-age story, while nothing groundbreaking, is heartwarming and flows nicely from one event to the next, and the romance definitely contains a dash of steam here and there!

One thing to note for non-British readers, be aware of the British terms utilizes throughout (such as sixth form), as some Googling might be necessary. (bigger publishing houses would usually re-edit for international market, but unsure if there's plan for it for this novel).

Overall, Hiding Him is a great extension to Adam Hattan's body of work, one that feels genuine, and demonstrate he can tell an engaging story. Excited to see where this direction will take him down the road (hopefully an adult romance is in the cards)!

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**

Imaginative and heartfelt, Craft is a solid collection of interconnected short stories touching upon themes of immigration, familial bond, and writing as a craft. While its marketing places a lot of emphasis on this Devil character, his role is often more of a prompter for broader discussion, rather than a well-rounded presence driving the plot. In addition, I would also label Craft squarely as literary fiction, with supernatural elements featured in a few stories; if you're picking this up expecting a true horror experience — you might be a little taken aback by its subtlety.

Still, as a short stories collection this is one of the stronger ones that feels diverse but still maintains a cohesive core. I really enjoyed most of what I've read, and there are some truly unique standouts (the one about a vending machine selling little people is particularly memorable).

PS: Note the framing story does take place during COVID for a few chapters, in case this may potentially be a trigger for some.

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**

A decent, disposable thrill ride, If Something Happens to Me was fast-moving and kept my attention throughout, but there were also countless moments where I was thrown off by its lax on logic and common sense. So even though I enjoyed the overall plot progression and the subject matter featured (revenge, hidden identities, double agent, parental love), the ridiculous ease at how tasks were accomplished made the moment-to-moment experience absent of intricacy and downright silly (a character who was living in hiding had his photo publicly displayed near his residence, police / FBI freely sharing case details with civilians, and not to mention plot convenience like characters simply bumping into each other).

The audiobook is very sleekly produced, and the narrators' performance adds the needed human warmth to an otherwise very task-oriented writing. With this being my first Alex Finlay read, I can see the reason behind his popularity: the story is extremely eventful and 'busy', so there is never a dull moment. But my suspense of disbelief can only stretch so far, and the liberty he's taken in his storytelling is a little beyond my personal tolerance. Not (yet) a must-read author, but can make for a fine library loan when I'm desperate for something easily digestible and thinking-free. 

Deeply atmospheric, if a little emotionally detached, The Haunting of Velkwood is all about the melancholic mood, and its unique premise of a neighborhood being 'stuck' in an unidentifiable dimension. Even though thematically the story has shades of Silent HIll 2 and The Grudge, where the negative energy from a traumatic event physically marks a place, the execution remains pleasingly original and provocative — I particularly appreciate the choice in not providing concrete explanation to strange phenomena, further enhancing its otherworldly feel.

The character portrayal of The Haunting of Velkwood is where I have conflicting thoughts. While the sense of being weighted down by one's guilt is vividly conveyed, the more emotive scenes comes across as awkwardly stilted and robotic — which makes subplots such as friendship bond and forbidden romance a little difficult to resonate. However I can see it being justified as a stylistic choice, as the almost 'uncanny valley' delivery adds to the overall off-kilter vibe (like in Twin Peaks), but with the story's closure being linked so tightly to human emotion, I question if the scale is skewed too close to the 'weird' spectrum for its own good.

Still, I applaud The Haunting of Velkwood for its originality and vivid scene-setting. If you want to indulge in an introspective, lyrically eerie slow burn (and enjoy the various references mentioned), this one is worth picking up.