kristianawithak's reviews
1596 reviews

This is stunning in illustration and message. 

This was a wild read. Highly recommend 

Longtime Pessl fan, this new book is a great addition to the elaborate books, puzzles, and backstories she creates. 

Catalina is a beautiful novel about a Harvard student living with the secret of being undocumented. The novel takes place before the Dreamers act (DACA) was enacted. Catalina attends Harvard and fears graduation as she cannot legally work. She thrives in unpaid internships, and hides a secret because she does not know who to trust. She arrived in the US as a child, lives with her grandparents, and hides in plain sight. This novel is a beautiful story about belonging and family. It brings to light a very real issue for many living in the US.

Well intentioned boyfriends and families use their weight to bring light to her situation, but are they helpful? 

This is a wonderful novel with so much depth to it. It is easy to read and I was in love with Catalina and her grandparents. 

 Alice Bell returns in Displeasure Island, a sequel to her debut Grave Expectations. It’s like Scooby Doo, except the ghosts are real…an unlikely group of mystery solvers aided by ghosts. 

Our found family finds their way to a remote island for a much needed getaway. There they find a weird friend reunion they’re intruding on, a murder, and pirate ghosts! Of course a storm comes in and strands them all there with no cell reception. It’s my favorite setting/trope. 

Displeasure Island is a great addition to the series. The dynamic between Claire and Sophie, hits a rough spot. It’s hard when friend groups change, especially when you’ve been the only one tied to your dead best friend, but suddenly she’s making new ghost friends.

The mysteries are engaging and I want to know who killed Sophie and why she’s bound to Claire. I hope we get more into that in future stories. 

What’s your favorite setting for a mystery? 

 

Modern classic. I’m totally blown away. 

 

I loved Black Buck, by Mateo Askaripour. Askaripour’s sophomore novel is expansive and thought provoking! I can’t wait to see what he writes next. Both books are different, yet their themes are similar.

This Great Hemisphere is a vast story. I love a 500 year time jump, surprisingly not the only book I’ve read with a giant immediate time jump. A race of invisible people, subjugated to a lower class of people. It’s too close to real life to be pure sci-fi. This book has politics, coups, heroes, and villains. The politics of the world is well established and the hints at the world outside the Hemisphere were compelling. I love worldbuilding and Askaripour’s is deft.

Sweetmint is an excellent anchor to the book. I was completely invested in her journey.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but the last 25% is excellent and really made me appreciate the whole story more. There were so many scenes that stuck out and I can’t get out of my head. They are striking and lovely.

Askaripour is an auto read author for me. Can’t wait to see what he conquers next.

 

 

I love a book I can read over a weekend. Society of Lies is a compelling debut that was engaging to read. I enjoy the campus novel told through flashbacks. I think this works well for older readers who still enjoy a campus setting. 

Mysteries are always fun and Lauren Ling Brown brings a great perspective addressing race, elitism and money. 

I’ve read a few novels that discuss gaining admittance to prestigious schools and dealing with the outsiderness of never quite belonging due to race or economic status. It is an important theme to dissect. 

Society of Lies does a lot to address race, elitism, family relationships, money, acceptance all within the walls of Princeton. I love the crap Princeton gets in novels. I think there are many novels spent talking about their secret societies and social clubs.

She studied at Princeton and this is her first novel. 

I was frustrated by the miscommunication trope. It is not a plot device I enjoy.