Hellooooo! 2024 flew by for me. What a crazy year. And 2025 is not showing up to be less crazy so far. Writing on this blog was not a priority for me in 2024. Mostly because 2024 ended up becoming a pivotable year: from moving twice, to going through one logistically devastating breakup and entering a new relationship, including losing one job and starting a new one, losing a home, taking charge of my health, and also traveling to different areas of the United States. It was a year of change and growth, and I’ll forever be grateful for having gone through everything I did. Though would love to not go through some of those moments again.

I don’t get too personal on here, but I thought I’d share a bit more than normal to explain where I’ve been as my last review was earlier in 2024. And it’s a wrap-up and reflective blog post, so it does not need to be so central. Moving forward though, this blog might grow into a new area of how I share my thoughts and life, especially with all the changes we may witness over the course of 2025. Who knows though honestly, it might be this time next year in 2026 when I post again.

I wanted to take some time to share some of my notable and favorite reads from 2024. I read 31 books in 2024, a lot less than average. The named events mentioned above contributed to this lowering, but I still had a couple books stand out. Through my life changes in 2024, I was able to appreciate reading more. Reading, learning and engaging with someone else’s story or a subject helped me get outside my life and into a place that allowed me to grow more and learn new ideas. The below are in no particular rank or order.

Honorable mentions that you should check out later:

• Rouge by Mona Awad
• Funny Story by Emily Henry
• Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
• All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews

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Annie Bot by Sierra Greer (2024)

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Sierra Greer
2024 (Mariner Books)
Pages: Audiobook
Genres: Science Fiction, Feminism, Literary Fiction
CW: Sexual Assault, Emotional Abuse, Cheating, AI, Sexism, Sexual Content

Why did this book stand out to me? Annie Bot haunted me even after I stopped reading. It’s a wonderful novel of speculative science fiction that borders on eerie. The story is told through the perspective of an artificially intelligent, humanoid robot named Annie, who is designed to be for her owner, Doug’s, sexual pleasure and also as his girlfriend. She feels, grows and learns through her relationship with Doug, and the reader lays witness to the growth and realization Annie goes through as her relationship with Doug meets challenges and growth. The whole time Annie is not a typical woman, or written as one. And as we watch Doug take advantage of and use Annie because he views her as lesser than him, I found myself rooting for her as though she were human, and hoping the parallels to real women was not the case. But it turns out, I believe that was the case. Most human women go through similar realizations and revelations like Annie as they grow up in this society, and it broke my heart every time something would happen to Annie. The novel examines womanhood and what it means to be truly free. I cannot highly recommend this one enough. Reading it brought on feelings of discomfort, but honestly I felt like that was the point. Go read it.

Water & Salt by Lena Khalaf Tuffaha (2017)

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Lena Khalaf Tuffaha
2017 (Red Hen Press)
Pages: 96 (paperback)
Genres: Nonfiction, Poetry, Arab
CW: Arab Diaspora, Refugees, Military, War, Grief, Mentions of Violence

Why did this book stand out to me? This book of poetry drew me in after the first couple poems. This collection evoked a lot of bittersweet emotion that I highly recommend, and was wholly unexpected. The author’s themes stem from Palestinian experience of displacement and general Arab diaspora of the area, and afterwards arriving to the United States. The collections are divided into three different eras of the poet’s subject matter. Some of the poems’ motions and feelings are to me often uncomfortable and unimaginable, perhaps it’s because as someone who lives in the United States they’re not what I have experienced on any scale. They were overall heartbreaking and beautiful in language. I’m not an expert on poetry so I cannot go into a lot of detail, but highly recommend if you’re interested into diving into literature and voices focusing on the Palestinian or Arab experience. My personal favorites were “Newsworthy” and “Instructions for Making Arabic Coffee”.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter (2024)

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Ally Carter
2024 (Macmillan)
Pages: Audiobook
Genres: Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Romance, Holidays
CW: Sexual Content, Divorce, PTSD, Mentions of Violence/Murder

Why did this book stand out to me? This might seem unexpected, but I love whodunit mysteries, especially with two characters who have great chemistry and that’s exactly what this book was, but with more romance. Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt are two authors who write different genres of novels, and they’re also different in every other way. Represented by the same publisher, though they do not always get along. They are invited to one of the world’s most famous murder mystery author’s, Eleanor Ashley, estate in rural England for Christmas. Eleanor Ashley is Maggie’s writing idol, and she is excited for the chance to meet her. Until Eleanor goes missing three days before Christmas and none of the other guests know what happened to her. Maggie and Ethan take it upon themselves to figure out what happened to Eleanor even though the local detective who is called in does not want their help. This was an unexpectedly super fun murder mystery with great dialogue and a great story. I was glued to this one from beginning to end and highly recommend if you’re looking for a well-written murder mystery with a fun romance.

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer (2024)

Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Marcus Kliewer
2024 (Bantam)
Pages: 312 pages (HC)
Genres: Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Mystery
CW: Strong Horror Elements, Family Trauma, Violence, Strong Language, Christian Fundamentalism

Why did this book stand out to me? Oh my goodness, if you like horror/thrillers, go read this book. One of the most chilling stories I’ve ever read and absolutely left me guessing until the very end. The story started as a Reddit horror short story, where it won the 2021 Scariest Story of the Year award, which eventually turned into a full-length novel (source). A young queer couple, Charlie and Eve, buy a fixer-upper home in rural Oregon to flip. One night, a family passing through shows up asking if they can tour the house, as the father used to live there when he was a boy. Eve reluctantly lets them in. Mysterious events start occurring in the house, and Eve knows there is something dreadfully wrong with the family who keep finding excuses not to leave. The story turns into a kind of nightmare for Charlie and Eve, and I literally did not see the ending coming. Seriously, if you’re looking for a frightening story that builds suspense and intrigue in a harrowing way, this is the book. It’s also incredibly well-written. One of my favorite reads in 2024. I talked a lot about this one with the people in my life (maybe a little too much…).

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (1995)

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Jacqueline Harpman
1995 (Transit Books)
Pages: 208 (Paperback)
Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Classics
CW: Imprisonment, Survival, Women’s Issues, Mentions of Violence

Why did this book stand out to me? Where do I begin. This classic dystopian was equally shocking and powerful to read. A group of 39 women live underground in a prison, watched over by male guards for no known reason or purpose. The story focuses on the youngest, an unnamed narrator, who has no memory of life before unlike the rest of them. All she knows of life is within captivity and from the little information the other women tell her. This is a story of survival, women and discovery. This book was incredibly powerful to read, especially as a woman. I was absolutely speechless and heartbroken by the end, and I couldn’t stop thinking about this story. This is a classic for a reason, and I would highly recommend it. And especially if reading feminist works is important to you.

_Elizabeth

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I’m trying a dual review because I breezed through these two books belonging to the same series as audiobooks, and I figured – why not write one review instead of two? This is just an experiment, might not do this again. Let me know what you think!

Rating: 3.5 / 5 ⭐️
Done and Dusted (Rebel Blue Ranch #1)
Author: Lyla Sage
Published: 2023 (Random House Audio)
Pages: Audiobook Version
Genres: Romance, Western, Adult Fiction
CW: Strong Sexual Content, Strong Language, Sports Trauma, Family Trauma, Mental Health/ADHD

It’s been awhile! Life has kept me busy for the past month unexpectedly, so I’ve been delaying writing and posting. Reading has been a priority though, I’ve been in an audiobook kick recently. My next few reviews will likely be audiobooks. And if you don’t care for audiobooks then I have plenty of other blog posts regarding physical books! My grandma told me that she doesn’t consider listening to audiobooks like ‘reading real books’, and I highly disagree. Reading lovers come in all forms, and audiobooks are an accessibility tool and just another way for a reader to enjoy a book.

“You know, if you don’t like the road you’re on, you can always pave a new one” “Who said that? Robert Frost?” Brooks smiled and shook his head. “Dolly Parton,” he responded. “Ah, God herself,” I said with a laugh”

– Lyla Sage, “Done and Dusted”

Anyways, I read a book from a genre outside of my usual repertoire – western romance. “Done and Dusted” is by Lyla Sage. I saw the hype online about this one, and decided to branch out. Branching ended up being rewarding this time because I enjoyed this one (except for a few details)! Synopsis: Emmy Ryder is a competitive horse racer in the rodeo world, but after an accident from her last competition, she’s left wondering if she’ll ever race again. She then moves back to her hometown of Meadowlark, WY where she stays on her family’s horse ranch and reconnects with her best friend, Teddy, and the rest of the family. She also gets closer to Luke Brooks, her older brother’s attractive best friend, bar owner and bad boy of Meadowlark. From enemies to friends, Emmy and Luke wonder if there’s something more between them as they face their own troubles and their attraction to each other.

This was a fun and breezy romance! I felt like I was transported to the wild west, and I live in the wild west at that. The story was good, and I liked the chemistry between the main characters. The only criticism I have is there are so many plot holes. Like details introduced as a sub-plot were often left unresolved and just forgotten about. As a reader who likes having details wrapped up or just addressed if they’re going to be left unfinished, this drove me nuts at some points. I definitely recommend this book if you like romance novels and cowboys, the spicy scenes were pretty spicy… lets just put it at that, but not too ‘adventurous’. Or if you’re just looking for a fun, enemies-to-lovers story line. The ADHD and mental health representation was also refreshing to read and well covered.

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Rating: 4 / 5 ⭐️
Swift and Saddled (Rebel Blue Ranch #2)
Author: Lyla Sage
Published: 2024 (Random House Audio)
Pages: Audiobook Version
Genres: Romance, Western, Adult Fiction
CW: Strong Sexual Content, Strong Language, Emotional Abuse, Mental Health/Depression

This is a separate review for Rebel Blue Ranch Series #2, “Swift and Saddled“. I listened to this next book in the series after “Done and Dusted” immediately after finishing it. I think the third and final book in the Rebel Blue Ranch Series, “Lost and Lassoed” is coming out later this year. I’ll probably read that one too, and it couldn’t come fast enough!

“If you like who you are, why is it so hard to believe other people do too?”

– Lyla Sage, “Swift and Saddled”

Taking place in Meadowlark, WY on the Ryder’s ranch, this story is about Emmy’s always-positive older brother Wes, who is in the middle of renovating the ranch’s guest house for his dream project. But the San Franciscan interior designer for the project, Ada Hart, captures Wes’ heart immediately after her arrival to Meadowlark. Ada is talented and smart, and has her own sharp edges and trust issues from a failed marriage, but her attraction to Wes is undeniable. Can Ada overcome her fears for a chance at love, and can both of them meet in the middle even though their separate dreams could keep them apart?

I enjoyed this one more than “Done and Dusted” for sure. The plot holes from book #1 were not present in “Swift and Saddled“. I enjoyed the ride of getting to know the main characters more, and their chemistry was also undeniable. This book dives into more serious topics about mental health and abuse, and the author covered it very well. This was a fun romance with some spicy scenes (less spicy than “Done and Dusted“, in my opinion). But this book really evaluates the relationship between the main characters and the difficult aspects from either side and I loved every minute of it. Both of their desire’s for something real was just so relatable and well-written. I also enjoyed how the author wrote Ada realizing her own issues away from Wes as well, and her own personal healing from her trauma. It was just so, so good. My only criticism was the person narrating Wes’ character in the audiobook version was not my favorite narrator and his voice bothered me sometimes – but that’s all personal preference. And I found some dialogue and details just too cheesy on the point of thinking ‘ugh this would never happen this way in real life’ that I could not get on board with. Overall, definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun and hard-earned romance with some hugely relatable characters.

_ Elizabeth

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Rating: 4 / 5 ⭐️
All My Puny Sorrows
Author: Miriam Toews
Published: 2014 (McSweeney’s – First Published in Canada)
Pages: 317 (Hardcover)
Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Adult, Mental Health
CW: Sexual Content, Mentions of Suicide (TW!), Grief, Death of Family Members

Happy March! Last week I finished “All My Puny Sorrows” by Canadian writer, Miriam Toews. I first learned of this book through TikTok (a.k.a “BookTok”). I don’t look for recommendations through that platform often, but I’m glad I did with this one and I might have to look out for more! I know TikTok has its issues, but that’s another debate for another time and place. This is the first book I’ve read by Toews, a writer of Mennonite decent and highly awarded and honored in Canada. This book has won the author multiple literary awards, and I can definitely see why.

“It was the first time that we had sort of articulated our major problem. She wanted to die and I wanted her to live and we were enemies who loved each other”

– Miriam Toews, “All My Puny Sorrows”

This novel explores some more sensitive mental health topics so buckle up. Centering around two sisters who grew up together in a Mennonite community in Winnipeg: Yolandi (Yoli), a woman in Toronto who is barely adulting, broke and trying to take care of her two children that are the blessed product of two different failed relationships while getting by on odd jobs. And Elfreida (Elf), an intelligent concert pianist who is happily married, financially secure, beautiful and cherished around the world. But Elf wants to die, which terrifies and hurts Yoli to her core. After Elf’s latest suicide attempt before her big world tour, Yoli tries to make sense of Elf’s decision as Elf recovers in a psychiatric hospital through conversations with her sister and reflections on the other people in their lives. Yoli also reflects on their own childhood as well for answers. The novel examines the relationship between two sisters through Yoli’s eyes and touches upon grief, joy, depression, mental health challenges, and how far our love can go.

“When Richard Bach wrote ‘If you love someone, set them free’ he can’t have been directing his advice at human beings”

– Miriam Toews, “All My Puny Sorrows”

I have to say first off, Toews writing was so good! I loved her humorous voice as an author, and the wit and candor contained in her writing. This book touches upon some very serious and depressing topics, ones I thought would be uncomfortable to read about. I have my own, but different, mental health challenges, and have family members who struggle with similar issues to those in the novel. But I was engrossed in this book from start to finish. For me, the humor and love in this novel mixed with darker reflections translated into what makes us human. I also learned a lot about the Mennonite community that I did not know before, and her commentary on the mental health system in Canada was also fascinating. How the author presented mental health issues running in families was also so, so good. Though overall, I was not a fan of how the author presented a certain character turning out near the end of the novel (and no, I’m not talking about Elf), other than that I thought the plot, writing, vivid imagery, and other details were satisfying and fantastic.

“The pain of letting go of grief is just as painful or even more painful than the grief itself

– Miriam Toews, “All My Puny Sorrows”

Definitely keep in mind the trigger warning topic of suicide. This topic is discussed in detail, but it is done appropriately and sensitively, in my opinion. The author stated this book is based on the suicide of her sister in 2010 and the events leading up to it. Which breaks my heart a little to hear, but it adds to the richness and meaning of the writing. You can read more about this in an interview with her by The Guardian here. Definitely recommend this one at 4⭐️s!

_Elizabeth

If you believe a friend or a loved one is in immediate danger, please call 911, or your local police station, or the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

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Rating: 3.5 / 5 ⭐️
The Happy Couple
Author: Naoise Dolan
Published: 2023 (Ecco, HarperCollins)
Pages: 258 (Hardcover)
Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Romance, LGBT
CW: Sexual Content, Infidelity, Absent Parent, Complicated Relationships

This week I read “The Happy Couple” by Naoise Dolan. Dolan is an Irish author of several novels, and her bio shows she is queer and autistic. Her earlier debut novel, “Exciting Times“, is also on my TBR. Let me start out by saying, I enjoyed this book despite my following 3.5 ⭐️ review. But there were a few reasons why I personally did not think it was great. This novel left me with a lot to consider after, and perhaps my Goodreads review of this book which I wrote as soon as I finished was a little immature. Luckily this review gives me a chance to elaborate more.

“If asked ‘Why don’t men commit?’, you’ll say ‘They will, just not to you’; if asked ‘Why don’t women commit?’, you’ll say ‘Commit what, suicide?”

– Naoise Dolan, “The Happy Couple”

“The Happy Couple” is a novel about a young couple getting married: Luke, handsome with a successful career but a serial cheater, and Celine, a shy professional pianist who would rather be in front of a piano than anywhere else. This novel is about the brief events leading up to their wedding, but in their unique perspectives along with three other’s close to them: the bride’s sister and maid of honor, Phoebe, and the best man and ex-lover of Luke, Archie, and a connected but more removed wedding guest and friendly observer in their life, Vivian. The story feels like a character study about these persons and their complicated relationships with a burning question in the background – will the couple get married, or won’t they?

“Life offers few unambiguous red flags. More often, you see specks of crimson dye. They could form a pattern. Or they could just be dots”

– Naoise Dolan, “The Happy Couple”

I enjoyed the story line with the complicated relationship aspect and the characters’ individual arcs that meet, but I couldn’t get on board with some of the narration format and dialogue. The narration structure flowed, but it felt strange to read in the out-of-order timeline way the author was trying to do and it lost me at times. The author focused on keeping the character’s perspective sections separate, and the story timeline just jumped around in a disorganized way that I didn’t enjoy. For the record, I do enjoy narration that is out of order or misleading to support the plot, but the way this book did that felt strange… I wish I could explain why better, but it wasn’t my favorite in my personal opinion. The dialogue between characters also felt dry and unexpected in a negative way at times, and made me do an internal double-take at some of the things that were definitively stated.¹ But other portions of the dialogue and interactions were brilliant so I am definitely torn. The author is Irish and I am not, so maybe some of my confusion lies there in the dialect. I also appreciated the queer representation included in this novel.

This book is still worth the read if you’re a fan of Sally Rooney. But I’m a little partial to Sally Rooney at the moment. I am interested in reading more of Dolan’s work though. The story and character studies from the author’s perspective captured my interest as soon as I read the first page. I gave this book 3.5⭐️ because of my mixed feelings about this one.

Let me know what you think!

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 4 / 5 ⭐️
Death Valley
Author: Melissa Broder
Published: 2023 (Scribner, Simon & Schuster)
Pages: 232 (Hardcover)
Genres: Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Contemporary
CW: Brief Sexual Content, Grief, Wilderness Survival, Family Member Dying, Chronic Illness

Happy Valentine’s Day! Hope you’re spending this day with your loved one(s) today, and appreciate them every day. This weeks read was a mystifying one for sure. I read “Death Valley” by Melissa Broder. She’s the author of several books including “The Pieces“, which I read years before I started this blog, and the popular “Milk Fed“, which I also want to read at some point. Broder has also written poems and stories for selected publications. “The Pieces” is a book I don’t have a strong memory of, but I remembered it was ridiculous and hilarious so when I saw her most recent book with the surrealist cactus cover, I knew I had to pick it up. I have to admit as a desert dweller (in the Sonoran Desert) this one had some appeal.

“I’m perfectly content to eat by myself in public, so long as the restaurant is crowded. There’s solitude in a crowd”

– Melissa Broder, “Death Valley”

“Death Valley” is a story of grief, contemplation and desert survival. Our narrator is an author who is dealing with the reality of her father dying as he’s currently in hospice, and her husband who has a mysterious chronic illness no one can explain that’s making him weaker as time goes on. She leaves Los Angeles and goes to a Best Western in the California high desert to escape and get inspiration for her next book. On a lonely hike, she spots a large and lush cactus that only she can see and steps through a large gash in side of the cactus, which sets her on a journey to see through her own grief, emotions and relationships.

“This is the problem with human relationships: you come to a person with one feeling and they’re having another”

– Melissa Broder, “Death Valley”

This novel had me laughing out loud at the inner thoughts of the narrator. The writing was so good, and the author has such a poignant but hilariously dry voice. The story felt brief, the book isn’t very long, but the richness and detail of the plot made it feel like a longer experience into pure madness. The narrator’s internal dialogue about the world around her felt comforting and playful, making me the reader feel more connected, before delving into a ridiculous scenario. The author’s exploration of death and grief felt emotional and surreal as Broder guides the reader through those complicated emotions using magical realism. I love the magical realism genre in fiction, personally. For me, it has similar goals the fantasy genre offers, using fantastical elements to explain the present characters’ circumstances, but they take place in present-day reality.

“If I’m honest, I came to escape a feeling—an attempt that’s already going poorly, because unfortunately I’ve brought myself with me, and I see, as the last pink light creeps out to infinity, that I am still the kind of person who makes another person’s coma all about me”

– Melissa Broder, “Death Valley”

If you want to laugh while simultaneously wanting to cry, “Death Valley” is a good book to read. But read up on what you’re getting into first; there are some ridiculous moments. I gave this one a 4/5 ⭐️ because this book is my cup of tea, and the writing and plot with some surreal surprises fit together so well. But there are some messy parts to the writing at times which feel a little unorganized. I’m not sure if that is intentional.

On a totally separate note in case anyone is wondering, I’ve decided to stop writing ‘short reviews’ and stick with writing just ‘reviews’. There’s no pressure of a word count here, and I’m not getting paid to write these at the moment. I found I write better and more often without the tension of how many words I should write, and just write what I want to write. This tension was fault of my own, of course.

Also, I noticed every book I’ve read in 2024 has eyes on the cover.. which is definitely not purposeful. Let me know what you all think of this book if you’ve read it!

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 3.5 / 5 ⭐️
Silver Nitrate
Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Published: 2023 (Del Rey)
Pages: 315 (Hardcover)
Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Supernatural, Mystery, Historical Fiction
CW: Occult Supernatural, Horror, Mentions of Nazi Propaganda, Mentions of White Supremacism, Strong Language, Grief, Mentions of Violence/Blood

I’m dealing with a bad cold this week, but at least there’s more time to read. I’m back again after reading the supernatural thriller, “Silver Nitrate” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. This is the third book I’ve read by Moreno-Garcia; the others were “Velvet Was the Night” and “The Daughter of Doctor Moreau“. This author is most famous for “Mexican Gothic” and her canon features genres such as horror, fantasy, and historical fiction. Out of the three, “Silver Nitrate” is probably my least favorite, to get to the point. This novel was still an enjoyable read though and I will explain why.

“One must have hobbies… Or else the mind atrophies”

– Silvia Moreno-Garcia “Silver Nitrate”

The novel takes place in Mexico City in the 1990s, and focuses on two best friends who love horror movies. Montserrat, a bitter and talented sound editor who is down on her luck, and Tristán, a handsome and charming but now irrelevant soap opera actor with a tragic past .Tristán discovers his new neighbor is a forgotten cult horror film director that both him and Montserrat admire, and go on an adventure to help the old man and end up learning about Nazi occultism in a silver nitrate film reel from an older time. Montserrat and Tristán dive deep to solve the mystery behind these magic practices before they’re all cursed for good.

“Why? Because to imagine Indigenous intelligence and power would have been unthinkable. We are all taught to despise the whiff of darkness, of Indigenous blood and of Blackness….What Wilhelm said wasn’t considered outrageous at the time. It’s not even outrageous now, sadly”

– Silvia Moreno-Garcia “Silver Nitrate”

I’ve noticed that her newest book isn’t as hyped as her previous books, like “Mexican Gothic” which a lot of people I follow or know have read. Moreno-Garcia has a wonderful writing voice, and I enjoy how she sets the scene for the reader, whether it’s a spooky set up or describing a characters’ motives. She still does this in “Silver Nitrate”. I found the book slower in the beginning half at times which made it hard at certain points to continue on. Once I found a groove though, I couldn’t put it down. The mentions of film history mixed with the occultism and it’s influence in Mexico City post-1940s was fascinating though. Even though some of it was terrible especially concerning Nazi-influence in Mexico and white supremacism, I found the historical knowledge an important part of the read. If you read this book, definitely read the “Author’s Note” afterwards where she highlights some of her research and influences about film history.

“Even if the darkness never ended and swallowed him whole, he’d still run to her”

– Silvia Moreno-Garcia “Silver Nitrate”

Horror and film fanatics alike will enjoy reading this one. And the bisexual representation was pretty good. I give it 3.5 ⭐️s though since there were parts that ran off too slowly and it took awhile for the plot to pick back up. I could say more about some strange romantic conclusions to character plots, but no spoilers here! You’ll just have to read the book to find out…

Let me know what you think if you’ve read this one!

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐️
Bright Young Women
Author: Jessica Knoll
Published: 2023 (Marysue Rucci Books)
Pages: 373 (Hardcover)
Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Historical
CW: Descriptions of Violence Against Women, LGBTQ+ Trauma, Strong Language, Murder, Crime, Assault, Kidnapping

I’M BACK! I haven’t posted for quite some time now due to some life difficulties and changes, and I didn’t really want to post during all of that. I still post to Goodreads, and I kept up my Instagram for awhile (@elizabethreads_books) after, but now I’m back to posting on both. I plan to get rid of Twitter/X though, I didn’t really use it much to begin with. How are you all doing?? I hope you’re all still reading and staying safe out there. If anyone has any suggestions for the blog or the content let me know, and I still appreciate any book suggestions!

“Time does not heal all wounds. Grief is just like a sink full of dirty dishes or a pile of soiled laundry. Grief is a chore you have to do and it’s a messy one at that”

– Jessica Knoll, “Bright Young Women”

My first read of 2024 was “Bright Young Women” by Jessica Knoll, who is also the author of “Luckiest Girl Alive”, which I haven’t read but I saw a lot of trailers on Netflix for the movie adaptation featuring Mila Kunis. First of all, I really enjoyed this book! And I’m very skeptical about the true crime genre in podcasts, documentaries, docuseries, books, whatever etc. and how sensationalized killers have become. But Knoll focuses on the women surrounding the serial killer who have been thrown into the ring and who were ‘brighter’ than the killer himself. She even goes as far as to never name the serial killer, she only refers to him as “The Defendant” from start to finish. I’ve seen enough references to this real-life American, highly-televised serial killer that I was able to identify him from the synopsis and other reviews, and Knoll references him only in interviews (Vanity Fair Article). The focus of the novel is not on him, but on the grief, intelligence, and growth the women demonstrate in trying to discover the truth about who this man is and how he’ll be finally convicted of his crimes.

“They will call you hysterical no matter how much dignity you have. So you might as well do whatever the hell you want”

– Jessica Knoll, “Bright Young Women”

I won’t even mention him in my review out of respect for the author’s intent. But if you’re interested in hearing more about how she came to write about this subject, I highly recommend looking into some interviews she gave:

• Harper’s. Bazaar, “Jessica Knoll’s New Novel Challenges a Serial Killer’s Legacy”
• Bustle, “In Jessica Knoll’s ‘Bright Young Women, She Takes On….”

Anyways, in my opinion only, I loved this book because it’s the opposite of everything I dislike about the true crime genre. It is an interesting take on a highly-written about and googled man, who some consider not to be the genius that he was portrayed to be while he was alive in the media to after his death in the movies made about him (including obviously the author). This story flowed tremendously from start to finish. I don’t think he was special or admirable before going into this book, but I was impressed with how the author wrote the main women characters. They were completely vulnerable while being completely competent and capable in a world where they weren’t being taken seriously by law enforcement or the news media. I know this is historical fiction, and maybe there were some liberties taken as they were only based on the real women surrounding the Florida and Seattle-area murders. But I realized I would rather much read about the experiences of women in an unexpectedly horrifying situation having to figure out how to find closure, than read about the underwhelming ‘genius’ who turned out to be a sensation in the American news and tabloids for committing horrific murders because of a boy’s club mentality.

“The Defendant flaunted his true nature with audacious displays of ineptitude time and time again, and I wanted to tell these girls…. that they should be irate that effort and money had gone into dusting off the story and telling it again for a new generation, only for the filmmaker to wear the same blinders as the men who wrote the headlines forty years ago”

– Jessica Knoll, “Bright Young Women”

There were many descriptions of violence against women, which admittedly was hard for me to read sometimes. But those of course are to be expected with the subject matter of this book. I admire how the author wrote these descriptions with effectiveness and sensitivity at the same time. The author used careful devices to weave together the feelings and attitudes of the time and this criminal case, all without sensationalizing the criminal’s motives and the women’s’ dignities. I believe anyone who is interested in true crime, or is also skeptical but intrigued of true crime books and historical murder cases should read this book.

4 out of 5! ⭐️

_ Elizabeth

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,Rating: 3 out of 5⭐️
Title: White Magic: Essays
Author: Elissa Washuta
Published: 2021 (Tin House Books)
Pages: 432 (Hardcover)
Genres: Non-Fiction, Essays, Spiritual, Adult, Biography
CW: Rape, Abuse, Native American Traumas, Strong Language, Colonization, PTSD, Alcoholism
Link Here

Okay… Let me begin by stating that I have a lot and a little to say about this book. This week I finished reading a collection of essays by Native American writer Elissa Washuta called White Magic: Essays. I cannot remember how I came across this book or what made me want to read it. Maybe it was the description, which made it seem insightful, or maybe it was the pretty and simplistic cover design. But after completing this book, I have so many mixed feelings. I’m writing this review while re-watching Twin Peaks, a series Washuta mentions a lot in her book. Re-watching a series I also love felt appropriate to get my head into this review. Anyways, I feel the best way to approach this review after I describe the synopsis is to list out the pros and cons.

“I don’t like the story I keep hearing: all these white men fracking the frontier, no wives, only work, so some of them rape. If the oil business is the problem, why did I get raped in the city? The movie kills off a villain. At the end, text on the screen tells us that in real life, Native women are missing. Wind River Reservation is real, but justice is the climax of a white fantasy. Before colonizers fracked, they raped” – Elissa Washuta, White Magic

White Magic is a collection of the author’s short stories where she describes in great detail about her tumultuous love life, her experiences with the spiritual and religion, witchery, battle with alcoholism and her experiences as a Native American person and her findings of Native history. She also goes into detail about her pop culture influences, and her thoughts on what she sees and hears in detail. White Magic felt essentially like the author’s diary, but in literature form and prose.

“In your gut, you know that your relationship is bad, as in expired, like milk. Philip’s white man face is not a mask, and he can’t see it. He doesn’t love you. He is not wicked, never abusive, never mean, so you know you must hold on to this for as long as you can, because if you lose him, the next man might kill you” – Elissa Washuta, White Magic

Pros:

The content was well-spoken and poetic, Washuta has a unique voice. She also provided a lot of facts and history about Native persons that was insightful to read, especially coming from a Native perspective herself. She also provides a lot of insight into what women face, especially Native women, with PTSD and relationship abuse/rape. These subjects could be a trigger to you though, fair warning – she does go into a lot of detail. Some of the stories were relatable as well, and her telling of what a lot of women face in relationships and in life really spoke to me personally.

“But where else would I live? Not my ancestral territory, where I couldn’t imagine a way to make a living. Now, I wonder whether I wasn’t taking on a share of settler guilt, willing to suffer for them – for meaning in their place, but also as in for their entertainment, because they want the suffering. Settler colonialism wants me flagellating myself, because it’s a good distraction: nobody might notice the DOJ findings that, of the Native women they surveyed who were victims of sexual violence, 96 percent were harmed by non-Native perpetrators” – Elissa Washuta, White Magic

Cons:

There were some points where I could not stand the structure and style. The subject matter most of the time felt all over the place, and did not connect well at all to some things she stated in the same paragraph. I mentioned this a little before, but really this book felt like someone published the author’s diary about her daily thoughts. She also spent most of the book talking about the same ex-boyfriend on and off… which makes sense for being in a personal essay, but he was in all the essays.

“What do David Lynch & your ex have in common? Neither of them owe you closure” – Elissa Washuta, White Magic

Maybe it’s my fault for approaching this book with different expectations. This was always a book of essays. But I think I expected it to be more factual about spiritual or witch practices than what it really was, the author’s collection of angst about her ex-boyfriends and the same subjects/repetitive topics mentioned in every essay. I think this book will resonate more with other persons, but it definitely did not with me. Why should you read this book? If you enjoy works of memoir/essays from Native perspectives, but also dives deep into difficult and fem-relatable subject matter, this is the book for you. To me, the author’s style felt like a more-Native Lena Dunham, which can be both a complement or not one…

I give this one a 3 out of 5! (I thought about giving it a 2-star, but there was enough I liked about it to make up for the negatives)

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐️
Title: The Atmospherians: A Novel
Author: Alex McElroy
Published: 2021 (Atria Books)
Pages: 288 (Hardcover)
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Adult, Humor, Satire, Literary
CW: Eating Disorders, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Childhood Abuse, Suicide, Violence, Trolling/Doxxing, Cults, Sexual Content

Hello! I finished another book this week, by some miracle or way. Two in one week! I actually finished this one reading in a park, which seemed appropriate due to the naturalist cover (see photo above). Today has been pretty rough, but I’m glad to be ending it on a better note as I write this. My newest read is one I never expected to come across. The Atmospherians (or the_atmospherians …?) by Alex McElroy (they/them) is the first novel I’ve read by the author, and this is their first novel. I went into this one with a very open mind, because I literally had no idea what to expect. But by the end, I was equally entertained and perplexed!

“Your pain won’t impress anyone. The people your pain does impress aren’t worth impressing” – Alex McElroy, The Atmospherians

The Atmospherians is a work of contemporary fiction. Sasha Marcus is a young social media influencer who created and led a popular wellness brand, until it was all brought down by a troll and a grievous error over social media, and now Sasha is officially cancelled and doxxed. As Sasha’s life crumbles around her, as both her boyfriend and best friend leave her, one of her oldest friends comes out of the woodwork, Dyson Layne, a flailing actor and visionary who decides that he needs a change and Sasha needs something to restore her reputation. Dyson asks Sasha to join his venture, which is leading a cult called The Atmosphere. The Atmosphere is a place in rural New Jersey where men victim of toxic masculinity are transformed to be better human beings in society. Told through sharp humor, Sasha and Dyson go through the challenges of running a cult and growing as much and as little as possible themselves.

“Blake crooned cartoonishly to mock the top 40 hits on the radio. He considered these musicians beneath him, sellouts, but his envy was so obvious to me, and I felt closer to him – and distracted from my dread – by seeing into the feelings he’d never admit to” – Alex McElroy, The Atmospherians

The novel deeply focuses on the issues of Sasha and Dyson, either the friendship between them and individually. The book also calls out various social issues, and themes such as how we deal with toxic masculinity as a society and cancel culture. It almost felt satirical regarding current influencers/social media culture. There are hints in the narration like the storyteller is recalling a past event or maybe even subtly foretelling, but that is not so clear throughout the whole novel. The brief page interludes, though interrupting, were also divisive in telling the story. The writing was absolutely wonderful and clear though, and I was deeply entertained. McElroy used many literary devises extremely well, which may come from their education background (McElroy has a MA and PhD). But there were parts of the story and character progressions that felt dry to me, honestly, and at times I felt like there were more interluding periods than actual story development. The plot progression did feel a little all over the place at times, but it was not an issue for me.

“A smart friend of mine, this philosophy guy who quit on college to work construction, used to tell me God is a novelist: Nothing is too convenient for God. You think: I couldn’t possibly lose my daughter at the same age as my brother. But God – and I don’t mean God god, because fuck him, I mean whatever’s shaping this world – only has so many notions” – Alex McElroy, The Atmospherians

For the characters not being the best human beings, both for Sasha and Dyson, I felt really attached to their development. Normally when characters tend to have anti-hero tendencies, I get a bit annoyed at them. But in The Atmospherians, I was rooting for Sasha and Dyson the entire time, which was shocking. Not even for them to fail, but for them to find some kind of satisfying conclusion, a happy or sad one. I was looking forward to seeing how it would turn out for them (I won’t give anything away though). The tone of this novel felt extremely satirical though, and often times outrageous. Also, this novel had many hard triggers to be aware of, including eating disorders, if that is a concern for any readers.

“Despite her beset intentions and bitterness, she couldn’t withstand the expectations imposed on her appearance. And in doing so she taught me a valuable lesson in the inevitability of concession. The world encouraged me to see myself as an object of men’s desires. And for years I conceded. I shaped myself to the demands made on my body – kept it slender and pretty and fit – because I feared what would happen to me if I didn’t. I’d heard stories about the women who didn’t. When Dyson said, Show me how to have a body like yours, what I heard was: Show me how to internalize the expectations of magazines and commercials and lip-licking men in the street. Show me how to obsess over myself. To hate myself. To see my body as something both valuable and worthless, something constantly under construction. That was, I believed, what he anted from me, and regrettably, that’s what I taught him” – Alex McElroy, The Atmospherians

Why should you read this book? If you enjoy literary, satirical fiction about protagonists trying to start a cult based on reforming toxic men and find out more about themselves (mostly) and each other along the way, this is the book for you.

I give this one a 4 out of 5!

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐️
Title: The Maidens: A Novel
Author: Alex Michaelides
Published: 2021 (Celadon Books, Audible Audiobook)
Pages: 9 hrs 19 min (audiobook)
Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Mythology, Suspense, Audiobook
CW: Murder, Death, Childhood Abuse, Grief, Mental Health Issues, Violence

Hello and happy Sunday! I hope everyone is having a satisfactory end to their week. I did so by finishing The Maidens by Alex Michaelides on Audible Audiobook. I have definitely slowed down on the audiobooks and upped my physical book reading material. This is mostly due to being less inclined to listen to audiobooks as I’m doing my daily tasks or during my drives to/from work. I’m on a music listening trend right now… and most likely itching towards a podcast kick before I resume my audiobook kick. Anyways, after reading The Maidens, I was totally intrigued and pressed for more by the end.

“‘Love isn’t conditional’, Ruth said. ‘It’s not dependent on jumping through hoops to please someone—and always failing. You can’t love someone if you’re afraid of them, Mariana. I know it’s hard to hear. It’s a kind of blindness—but unless you wake up and see clearly, it will persist throughout your whole life, affecting how you see yourself, and others too'” – Alex Michaelides, The Maidens

Mariana Andros is an intelligent group therapist who is still reeling from a personal tragedy when she receives news her niece, Zoe’s, best friend has been brutally murdered at Cambridge, where her niece is also attending university. Mariana is convinced the murderer is the charming Edward Fosca, a Greek Tragedy professor who is notoriously popular with students and is the leader of a campus society of women called The Maidens, named after the mythos. Mariana stays to help investigate the murder using her psychoanalyzing specialties as a favor to Zoe, who is like Mariana’s own daughter. Mariana’s obsession with proving Fosca is the killer grows, and after another murder takes place she is left questioning what is true and what might be more nefarious than Mariana is prepared for. The Maidens is a slow thriller that builds and builds through suspense and conversation.

“Reading about life was no preparation for living it” – Alex Michaelides, The Maidens

I was more captivated by The Maidens than I thought I was going to be. I have not read Michaelides’ other hit novel, The Silent Patient, but I know that one was also beloved by thriller fans. Michaelides writing style really impressed me. And as I’ve been saying in my reviews recently, sometimes I get really tired of the cheesiness of thriller novel’s twists, especially in recent publications. But The Maidens‘ twists did not feel forced, and the progression to direct the readers attention was really masterfully done. The characters were also beautifully described, and I felt as though I knew them well as I read. The psychology topics were very interesting as well, and the author’s perspective felt very informed. Of course, the ending had to have a little cheesiness, but the turnout was much more satisfying.

“Don’t glorify the events of your life and try to give them meaning. There is no meaning. Life means nothing. Death means nothing. But she didn’t always think that way” – Alex Michaelides, The Maidens

Why should you read this book? If you enjoy clever and slow thrillers with supernatural topics and ethereal psychoanalyses, this is the book for you. I read other reviews with criticisms that the ending was not very satisfying, but I actually thought the opposite. My opinion was that this novel had more closing than some other thrillers receive. Definitely pick this one up if you’re looking for a good end-of-summer thriller! I also enjoyed the narration and the narrator’s voice over audiobook, and I had no issues following along.

I give this one a 4 out of 5!

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 3.5 out of 5⭐️
Title: Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead: A Novel
Author: Emily R. Austin
Published: 2021 (Atria Books)
Pages: 256 (Hardcover)
Genres: Adult Fiction, Contemporary, LGBT, Queer, Humor
CW: Suicide, Alcoholism, Mental Health Issues, Death, Homophobia, Grief

Hello and Happy Saturday! I hope everyone’s week is ending on a good note, and hopefully mine will too. I was very excited to finish my latest read though, Everyone in The Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin, a new Canadian author I had not heard of before seeing this book. After reading good reviews, I thought I would pick this one up! Plus the plot sounded hilarious and interesting.

“It turns out the crackers I stole are the body of Christ. After eating more than half the bag, I googled the cracker brand and learned that I paired marble Cracker Barrel cheese with God’s transubstantiated body. I had originally googled the crackers so I could leave them a review. I planned to write: BORING. Whoever created these is unimaginative. These crackers are tasteless and bland” – Emily Austin, Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead

Our heroine Gilda, is an atheist, lesbian twenty-something who needs a job and cannot stop thinking about illness, death, her obsession with animals and building the perfect dirty dishes tower. When she stumbles across advertised free therapy at a Catholic Church, a priest named Jeff believes she’s there for an interview as the church’s receptionist. Gilda gets the job and replaces the previous receptionist, Grace, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. As Gilda fools everyone into thinking she’s a pious Catholic and straight, she becomes engrossed in Grace’s life and communicates via email with one of her friend’s, Rosemary, pretending to be the deceased Grace in order to avoid the awkwardness of telling Rosemary her friend passed. As Gilda navigates a new romance, her health, family life and what really happened to Grace, she learns more about herself and existence.

“My mother had a baby, and her mother had a baby, and her mother had a baby. Every woman in my family before me lived to have a baby – just so that baby could grow up to have another baby. If I don’t have a baby, then all of those women reproduced just so that I could exist. I am the final product. I am the final baby” – Emily Austin, Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead

Austin’s novel is filled with clever and thoughtful writing, I loved her contemporary writing style and it was honestly my favorite part. The succession of events following Gilda were also well-received and I had a great time reading this one. The only big downside was I did not care for how dry Gilda’s character could be at times. And sometimes I could not follow her progression as a character. Gilda was hilarious and the existentialism was relatable and palpable, but sometimes I felt as though I didn’t truly understand where the novel was heading. The novel definitely had more promise in the beginning, but the end did not follow through as much as I had hoped. The subjects of mental illness and family issues were sensitively, while also being boldly, told and reflective. But why should you read this book? If you’re into contemporary novels about unique and LGBT characters that question existential issues, this is the book for you.

I give this one a 3.5 out of 5!

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐️
Title: Survive the Night: A Novel
Author: Riley Sager
Published: 2021 (Dutton, Penguin Random House)
Pages: 324 (Hardcover)
Genres: Historical Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery
CW: Murder, Crime, Violence, Brief Gore, Car Accidents, Mental Illness, Rated-R Movie References

Was anyone else excited to pick up this title? I was for sure! Since Sager announced his newest book sometime last year, I’ve been really looking forward to it. Like many other thriller fans, I really enjoyed his other titles, some I reviewed in the past and are linked in the following: The Last Time I Lied, Lock Every Door, Home Before Dark, and Final Girls. But I just finished this book during my vacation to Alaska. By the way, I finished TWO whole books on vacation! Maybe the key to truly enjoying reading is while you’re on vacation…. I’m no expert though, it had been a long time since I was on a vacation. Anyways, after finishing Survive the Night by Riley Sager, I was definitely impressed by the end!

“In that moment, she understands that she’s in charge of her own destiny. She’s Ellen Ripley. She’s Laurie Strode. She’s Clarice Starling. She’s Thelma and Louise, kicking up dirt in a final fuck-you as they choose freedom over life. Their choice. No one else’s. Now it’s Charlie doing the choosing” – Riley Sager, Survive the Night

It’s 1991 and film enthusiast, grieving college student Charlie Jordan, needs a ride home from her New Jersey campus after a tragedy. She meets Josh Baxter through a ride share board on campus, and she agrees to have him drive her home in the middle of the night in exchange for sharing gas money. As Charlie gets to know Josh during the drive, she suspects he may actually be a serial killer. Will Charlie survive the long drive home, or is it all in her head? Survive the Night is a work of suspense that leaves the reader questioning what they’re reading. The story is told over the course of the drive, and there are clear transitions between chapters. I also loved how he wrote the main character’s inner thoughts, I think it was one of his more introspective female leads. In all of Sager’s books, he always has a female lead and the perspective is from her view.

“She blamed herself and hated herself and punished herself because that’s what women are taught to do. Blame themselves. Blame the victims. Tell themselves that since the Angela Dunleavys and Taylor Morrisons and Madeline Forresters of the world had sat through the same lessons on assault…. It must have been their fault they were attacked. Or raped. Or killed. No one tells women that none of it is their fault. That the blame falls squarely on the awful men who do terrible things and the fucked-up society that raises them, molds them, makes excuses for them. People don’t want to admit that there are monsters in their midst, so the monsters continue to roam free and the cycle of violence and blame continues” – Riley Sager, Survive the Night

Overall, I really liked the story for such a campy title and plot lines! The sequence flowed fantastically, and I think this was my favorite development out of all his books. I think this is his best well-written novel yet, he’s definitely been developing his writing. But as for my favorite story, I’m impartial to Lock Every Door. The movie references were also on par, and I have to admit I was geeking out over them. This was the fastest I ever read one of his novels too, I was definitely invested! My only real negative was that the twists felt a bit forced and cheesy towards the end, but I’ve gotten that impression from some of his books in the past. But sometimes I get tired of thrillers handing out some of the cheesiest plot points more than other book genres… Why should you read this book? If you’re a Riley Sager fan, or if you love campy thrillers with killer movie endings, this is the book for you.

I give this one a 4 out of 5!

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐️
Title: Malibu Rising: A Novel
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Published: 2021 (Ballantine Books, New York)
Pages: 365 (Hardcover)
Genres: Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction, Drama
CW: Alcoholism, Drug Use, Strong Language, Sexual Content, Marital Affairs, Mental Health Issues

“She had to choose what, of the things she inherited from the people who came before her, she wanted to bring forward. And what, of the past, she wanted to leave behind” – Taylor Jenkins Reid, Malibu Rising

Hello! I’m here to interrupt your hopefully decent Saturday to talk about a wonderful book I finished last week, Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I was excited for this one, because I loved another of Reid’s novels, Daisy Jones & The Six. So when I saw this one was being released, I knew I had to read it. The plot seemed intriguing, and the cover looked pretty (see pictured above). Malibu Rising seemed to be a divisive narrative about family and legacy. Plus, I loved Reid’s writing style in Daisy Jones so I knew this one was going to be a contender.

“Your whole world can be falling apart, she thought, but then Springsteen will start playing on the radio” – Taylor Jenkins Reid, Malibu Rising

Malibu Rising is a work of narrative fiction taking place in 1983 about the Riva siblings: Nina – a surfer married to a pro-tennis player living in a Malibu mansion, Jay – a world-renowned surfing champion, Hud – a famous photographer, and Kit – the baby, college-aged sister and wannabe surfer. The siblings, even though they are the children of famous crooner singer Mick Riva, are bound by tragedy and hardship amongst beautiful Malibu. The story takes place over the course of a day, the day Nina holds one of her famous parties, where locals and celebrities gather for one last raving all-night party of the summer. The parties have grown larger as each year goes by, but this year the party is not the usual rave. The siblings are each dealing with their own personal struggles, and eventually those struggles and unspoken feelings clash together to reveal a truth about each of them. Malibu Rising is a spectacular work of fiction about legacy, family, identity and love. The book jumps narratives between the siblings perspectives, to flashbacks of their mother’s story in the 60s with their father, Mick Riva – only reinforcing the theme of legacy.

“When there is only you, you do not get to choose which jobs you want, you do not get to decide you are incapable of anything. There is no room for distaste or weakness. You must do it all. All of the ugliness, the sadness, the things most people can’t stand to even think about, all must live inside of you. You must be capable of everything” – Taylor Jenkins Reid, Malibu Rising

I was really impressed by this novel. There were a lot of good quotable quips about the major themes in the book, and the author’s writing was also definitely still on par. The plot, for being a little underwhelming at times, was intriguing for the most part and kept my interest. I was definitely dying to know what happened next when the narratives switched to another story line. This was a great summer read too, especially due to the dreamy descriptions of 1980s Malibu. The way the author described the setting was believable and sufficient. There were a few difficult and adult subject matters in this book as well that were a little hard to get through, but nothing too heavy. The way the author wrote about the inner dialogues of the main characters were heartfelt and authentic.

“Nina understood, maybe for the first time, that letting people love you and care for you is part of how you love and care for them” – Taylor Jenkins Reid, Malibu Rising

Why should you read this book? If you’re a fan of speculative adult fiction taking place in 1980s Malibu, CA with serious undertones, this is the book for you. I definitely recommend Malibu Rising, especially if you’re a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s other novels. This novel touches on a lot of topics and emotions many persons can relate to, and Reid communicates them very well, which is why I think this was a rewarding read.

Do you have a favorite novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid?

I give this one a 4 out of 5!

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 3.5 out of 5 ⭐️
Title: Hairpin Bridge: A Novel
Author: Taylor Adams
Published: 2021 (William Morrow, HarperCollins, New York)
Pages: 306 (Hardcover)
Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Crime
CW: Rape, Violence, Suicide, Murder, Crime/Police, Gun Violence
Link Here

Hello everyone, it’s great to be back!! I hope you all have not forgotten about me. It’s been a long time since I wrote a review on here. I briefly spoke before about why I have not been reading and writing reviews as much recently. It is mostly due to the reading funk that I was recently involved with for the longest time. But the dry spell became way worse, and I’m six books behind my Goodreads Challenge 2021 goal too… I’m hoping I can catch up, I really want to meet my goal this year. My mental health has also declined a bit along with a lot of difficult life things going on in the background, and most days reading is not what I want to do. Recently, I made it a goal to keep reading despite what life throws at me and to make the best effort I can for my mental health. Reading, in the past, was a positive medium for my mental health after all. Anyways, I have a lot of reading and catching up to do! Thank you all for bearing with me, and I cannot wait to slowly start integrating back into the book world. Today, I’m here to talk about the highly rated thriller novel, Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams. This is the first book I read by Adams, but I’ve heard good things previously about his other thrillers.

“‘It’s not your fault, Lena.’ There it was… It was only a matter of time before he stumbled across the blue-ribbon Thing People Tell You When your Sister Commits Suicide. And here it was…. Let the living stay blameless. Blame the person who’s not here anymore, who can’t defend herself. It made Lena so deeply sick” – Taylor Adams, Hairpin Bridge

Lena Nguyen, a famous and grieving internet blogger, has decided her twin sister Cambry did not commit suicide by jumping off the remote Hairpin Bridge outside of Missoula, Montana. Lena decided Cambry was murdered, because of the suspicious circumstances around her death, like the multiple 911 calls, her suicide text note and the testimony of Corporal Raymond Raycevic, the cop who found Lena’s body. Raycevic’s testimony is the most suspicious of all, and Lena is determined to uncover the truth and find out what really happened to Cambry and maybe get revenge for her twin sister who was gone too soon. The book switches perspectives between the main event and written commentary from the narrator.

“I wish I had spent my time with you differently” – Taylor Adams, Hairpin Bridge

Overall, I had a great time reading this book! It had a solid story from start to finish. The concept and twists were not particularly creative and did not quite pique my interest, but the narrative and transitions between perspectives were smooth. I enjoyed getting in the head of the main character, and the author did a great job of putting the reader in her shoes. For a fairly unoriginal story, the plot and devices were compelling and really made the book what it was. The only big downside for me was how cheesy and typical the twists turned out to be. Why should you read this book? If you’re a fan of any other of Taylor’s books or if you’re looking for a quality, grisly thriller, this is the book for you.

I give this book a 3.5 out of 5!

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 3 out of 5 ⭐️
Title: Picnic in the Ruins: A Novel
Author: Todd Robert Petersen
Published: 2021 (Counterpoint Press)
Pages: 328 (Softcover)
Genres: Fiction, Crime Thriller, Archeology, Adventure, Adult
CW: Sexual References, Violence, Gun Violence, Cultural Appropriation, Looting, Strong Language
Link Here

Hello all! This week I’m here to talk about a novel with, what I think is, a very pretty cover: Picnic in the Ruins by Todd Robert Petersen. This is the first book I have read by Petersen, and I have not heard of him before I saw this title at a Barnes & Noble recently when I was browsing. The copy I read is from the library though, of course. This book does not have a huge following, as far as I can tell, but I found it was a surprisingly delightful read!

“I’ve heard people talk about museums like they are some kind of pirate ship, but in reality, they are privateers, since their theft is so often sanctioned by the state… I grew up hearing her (my mother) talk about the way her own country… was systematically plundered by the British and French. This is true of Central America, China and Ireland – pretty much every place on the planet has had its heritage stolen and relocated somewhere else, usually accompanied by people talking about how the civilized world can help let light into the dark areas of the globe. Sometimes these places were called backward sectors. The U.S. president has other names for those parts of the world” – Todd Robert Petersen, Picnic in the Ruins

Picnic in the Ruins is an adult adventure novel about a group of people interconnected by a larger scheme surrounding the preservation and degradation of Native American cultural sites along the Utah-Arizona border. Sophia Shepherd, an intelligent anthropologist, is researching the impact of tourism at different cultural sites near the Utah-Arizona border looking to make a difference, when she becomes mixed up with the two criminal, bumbling Ashdown brothers stealing a set of maps from a disliked collector of Native American artifacts, which sets in motion a dangerous and deadly plot with a surprise outcome and ending. The story also features a small-town local Sheriff Dalton who just wants to mind his own business, an attractive and mysterious park ranger named Paul, and a German tourist named Reinhardt who wants to have an exciting adventure in his romanticized idea of the Southwest. The author covers a lot of controversial topics about site and cultural preservation, cultural appropriation and ethics, and even more serious topics about how the US population affects national parks and the lack of Native American influence in their care.

“‘Beauty is a construct’… ‘We Should save all of it, even if it is ordinary, maybe because it is ordinary’…’And the tragedy is that most people have no idea what they are looking at, and so entire cultures have become decorations, fetishes, trinkets to be bought and sold. They love artifacts, but it stops there. I don’t see these people supporting clean water projects or advocating for the thousands of Indigenous women who have gone missing’” – Todd Robert Petersen, Picnic in the Ruins

I really enjoyed this one! The plot and writing were exciting, and the author does a wonderful job jumping around the different perspectives of the characters in order to tell the story. The reader can see the author’s knowledge of cultural preservation and anthropology come through in his writing. The only aspect I was not a fan of was the lack of conversations from Native American persons in the novel about the issues spoken about regarding their land. It was mostly brought up and discussed by the non-Native characters. It is what it is, but I think this would have made the book more compelling. How the author wrapped up the ending was also a little questionable for me. But overall, the topics were educational and the dialogue flowed well which made the book worthwhile.

Why should you read this book? If you enjoy adventurous novels with a heavy emphasis on real-life Native American cultural and land preservation topics, this is the book for you. I read this book on a plane last weekend, and it was just the adventure I needed for my own traveling adventure!

I give this one a 3 out of 5!

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐️
Title: Speak, Okinawa: A Memoir
Author: Elizabeth Miki Brina
Published: 2021 (Knopf Publishing, New York)
Pages: 289 (Hardcover)
Genres: Memoir, Autobiography, Asian Cultural, Nonfiction
CW: Loss, Violence, Xenophobia, Racism, War, Nationalism, Alcoholism
Link Here

I hope everyone in the US had a great holiday weekend! This week I am back to talk about a book that took me quite some time to finish, but it was well worth it in the end. I finished the quite emotional and unforgettable memoir Speak, Okinawa by author Elizabeth Miki Brina (Elizabeth is a great name… by the way 😉). This is the first work I have read by Brina, and at first I was not sure what to think, but by the end I was touched by her words. It was definitely a rewarding read.

“I believe we inherit sin as much as we inherit trauma. I believe inherited sin is its own form of trauma. But maybe we have a chance at redemption. By being aware, being honest. By giving up power. By letting the world change. By changing ourselves. By apologizing. By forgiving? What would atonement and forgiveness look like? Within a person, a family, a nation?” – Elizabeth Miki Brina, Speak, Okinawa

Speak, Okinawa is a memoir written about the author’s complicated relationship with her family growing up and into adulthood. Brina’s mother is a humble and spirited waitress from Okinawa who married her white blue-blooded American father while he was stationed as a soldier in Okinawa. After he brought his new wife back to the US and after they had Elizabeth, she began to struggle with fitting in, which affected both Elizabeth and her father in different ways. Elizabeth’s relationship with her mother turned into a struggle and the author describes the resentment and cruelty she showed her mother growing up. Brina also shares her internal struggle with identity, shame and the mistakes she made along the way. Brina focuses separately on her parents, and how her relationships with them formed her into the person she became and how they inspired her search of learning about the history of Okinawa.

“America, you spend money on military than half of the world combined. America, why? Who threatens you? China? North Korea? Russia? Iran? So far, you have used our island to bomb Iraq and Afghanistan and Iraq again. America, as we speak, you are dumping sand and soil into our ocean. Not for our defense. Not for our protection. America, it’s not too late. No matter how far you’ve gone down the wrong path, it’s not too late. Turn back. Turn back. Free Okinawa!” – Elizabeth Miki Brina, Speak, Okinawa

I feel as though I won’t describe this book as well as I want to, but I wanted to emphasize how informative this memoir was more than anything. I learned a lot about the history of Okinawa, and I loved how the author turned the history into an informative narrative. As you may see by all the quotes I included in this review, the author provided a lot of backstory about the history, attitudes and feelings of the people of Okinawa. Plus I had no idea how involved the U.S. military was and still is there. I have not fact checked anything Brina cited though. Brina says her parent’s story inspired her to look into the history of the place of her heritage.

“Since 1972, nearly nine thousand crimes – including murders by shooting, by stabbing, by strangulation, vehicular homicide, theft, arson, rape, sexual assault – have been committed by U.S. military personal stationed in Okinawa. One hundred sixty-nine court-martial cases for sexual assault – a higher record than at U.S. military bases in any other nation – have occurred in Okinawa. Today, twenty percent of Okinawan land mass is still controlled by the U.S. military. More land controlled by a foreign military than in any other nation” – Elizabeth Miki Brina, Speak, Okinawa

Speak, Okinawa was written like poetry, but also as an introspective narrative about carefully meditated thoughts from the author. Brina writes in an amazing way that is heartfelt yet intelligent in insight. Her writing is also succinct and to the point. For writing from solely her own perspective, she captures her parent’s feelings well in her writing from only many years of observation. This book had a lot of sad and grievous moments from the author’s life, but the lessons of forgiveness and seeking your identity were powerful.

“Yet these memories are impossible to forget, regardless of whether we actually lived through them. I believe they stay in our bodies. As sickness, as addiction, as poor posture or a tendency toward apology, as a deepened capacity for sadness or anger. As determination to survive, a relentless tempered optimism. I believe they are inherited, passed on to us like brown eyes or the shape of a nose” – Elizabeth Miki Brina, Speak, Okinawa

Why should you read this book? If you enjoy memoirs and stories from an American Asian/biracial persons perspective, which covers significant and heartbreaking lessons of life in a humanistic way, this is the book for you. This book was difficult to read at times, but it was perfectly worth it. Overall, I loved Brina’s writing style, and her inward dialogue made the entire book.

I give this one a 4 out of 5!

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐️
Title: Later
Author: Stephen King
Published: 2021 (Hard Case Crime, Titan Books, London)
Pages: 248 (Paperback)
Genres: Fiction, Horror, Paranormal, Thriller
CW: Paranormal Horror, Strong Language, Adult Situations, Assault, Sexual References
Link Here

Hello all! I’m here to talk about a book that I’ve picked up on-and-off since one of my friends gifted it to me for my birthday in April. It was definitely an unexpected gift, but not unwanted by any means! Let me be honest by starting with the fact that I am not the biggest Stephen King fan. It is not the genre or the stories themselves, but it’s his way of writing that gets me. Sometimes I feel like I’m reading a Victor Hugo novel with all the backstory and the drowning details when I read some of his books. Not that I don’t understand him, but it feels very verbose and unnecessary. But I do enjoy the dialogue between characters and vernacular in the narrative is smooth and understandable. And that’s a big reason why I really liked his newest book, Later.

“Looking back on it, I sometimes think my life was like a Dickens novel, only with swearing” Stephen King, Later

Later is part of the Hard Case Crime series by Titan Books. This is one of three by Stephen King (no relation in story, I believe), and is the latest installment with the previous being Joyland and The Colorado Kid. I haven’t read either of these yet. Later is the fast-paced story of young upper east side New Yorker Jamie Conklin and his single-mother and tough literary agent, Tia Conklin. Jamie narrates his experiences as a child/teenager as an adult in the future, looking back at the time he discovered his unusual gift and the consequences it brought him. Jamie can see the dead (not like The Sixth Sense ‘I see dead people’ sort of dead), specifically he can see the dead right after they die in a meaningful place for them for a few days before they go into a non-described after life. He can also talk to and ask them questions, and they have to tell him the truth. Jamie only wants a normal childhood, but his gift draws in human enemies and after an unfortunate event, a hateful spirit that isn’t like the others and shocks Jamie to his core.

“You get used to marvelous things. You take them for granted. You can try not to, but you do. There’s too much wonder, that’s all. It’s everywhere” – Stephen King, Later

This book is a horror novel, the narrator Jamie often describes it as such breaking the fourth wall, but it had the fast-paced story like a suspense and thriller. I was really impressed by and definitely had a great time reading this book. My friend who gifted this book told me that Stephen King has a formula for his storytelling. While I’m not sure what that is, I can say I loved the layout and how King told the story right up until the ending. Maybe I’m not a fan of all King’s books, but I definitely liked this one. This was also an easy read, and it didn’t take me very long to finish once I got into it.

“Belief is a high hurdle to get over and I think it’s even higher for smart people. Smart people know a lot, and maybe that makes them think they know everything” – Stephen King, Later

Why should you read this book? If you like Stephen King’s books, or enjoy thriller and supernatural crime thrillers with coming-of-age themes, this is the book for you. I’m not turned completely, but I definitely do not have a lot of bad things to say about this novel. Maybe I’ll have to give his books a chance again.

What’s your favorite Stephen King book? Comment below for recommendations if you’re a fan of his.

I give this one a 4 out of 5!

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐️
Title: Gold Diggers: A Novel
Author: Sanjena Sathian
Published: 2021 (Penguin Press, New York)
Pages: 344 (Hardcover)
Genres: Fiction, Novel, Magical Realism, India Cultural, Adult, Literary Fiction
CW: Language, Sexual Content, Magic, Xenophobia, Adult Situations, Drug & Alcohol Use
Link Here

Hello everyone, It’s finally the weekend, and I’m back for another review! I felt a little proud of myself for taking the time to finish this book during my reading slump… but of course I think not feeling well and having to stay in bed helped a little. I’ve been holding onto this one for awhile, procrastinating and renewing this book at the library, but I’m finally finished! This is the first book I’ve read by author Sanjena Sathian. I believe this is her second book according to Goodreads, but she’s written a lot of nonfiction and short fiction for multiple publications. And by the end of this book, I was a fan of her writing and perspective. This is my review for Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian.

“Anyway, that was all I grasped about change: that it occurred above me, around me, that by the time I noticed it, it was too late; that I would always be catching up to it” – Sanjena Sathian, Gold Diggers

Gold Diggers is a work of narrative, contemporary fiction about Neil Narayan, the charming son of immigrant Indian parents living in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. Taking place during two different periods of Neil’s life, the author tells his story about growing up in Atlanta and then living on the West Coast in Berkley and Silicon Valley as an adult. The event that unites both places and impacts Neil’s life forever is meeting Anita Dayal, his neighbor and romantic crush, and her mother Anjali. Neil discovers their secret, they brew a secret gold potion using alchemy from real-gold Indian jewelry and drink it to harness the ambition of their owners in their basement. Neil becomes in on their project forever changing the course of his life, and in turn, affecting their suburban community when things get out of control. Ten years later, as a drug-addicted adult and historian on the California Gold Rush, Neil meets Anita in Silicon Valley and she bring him in once again on a scheme to help her mother who is in trouble. Filled with magic, history, wonders, and comedic relief – Gold Diggers is a biting and intelligent novel about growing up and finding your identity and path on your own terms.

“Time that, as Chidi would say, was all everyone wanted – more time for the big, and the small, a chance to undo resentments, a chance to witness your child’s future slowly unfurling, a chance to go on another walk around the sun-warmed cul-de-sac” – Sanjena Sathian, Gold Diggers

Can you tell by my description above that I was a fan of this book? If not, yes I was a fan of this book! At first, it was hard for me to get into it. But once I reached the first quarter to middle of the book, I could barely put it down. I had to know what happened next as the story progressed. The writing and dialogue were clever, and the author’s insight into Indian suburban communities in Atlanta was well constructed and informative. I also loved Neil and Anita, not wanting to give away any spoilers, but their story intertwining together was constructed well and was actually realistic. By the way, I love reading novels that contain romances and relationships where the characters’ actions are a bit more realistic and true to a real persons. The author’s way of describing Neil’s inner dialogue about his world and feelings was fantastic as well. Also, the topics brought forth about communities of persons from India and their American descendant children were a new one for me personally. I have not read a lot of novels that focused on Indian communities and commentary, and that is definitely a shame I know. I try to diversify my reading when I can, but I’m not always best at it. I hope to change that as I go along though.

“This was what it felt like growing up. Adults and kids constantly gossiping about one another, judging whether or not you were Indian enough, using I don’t know what kind of standards. And at that point, it’s worse than gossip. It’s actually part of what I wrote my thesis about, at Stanford—because I went back, by the way, and graduated magna cum laude” – Sanjena Sathain, Gold Diggers

Why should you read this book? If you love great novels that contain adult themes while adding a bit of magical realism with a moral twist that also take place with a cast of mostly Indian-decedent characters, this is the book for you. If you’re on the fence about this one, definitely give it a chance! I’m really glad I did. This was the perfect work of adult fiction I needed in my life right now. I’m slowly moving out of my reading slump, and I’m glad I can focus a bit better on books I want to reflect on.

I give this one a 4 out of 5!

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 3 out of 5⭐️
Title: The Guest List: A Novel
Author: Lucy Foley
Published: 2020 (William Morrow, Audible Audiobook Version)
Pages: Audible – 10 hrs 22 min
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Crime
CW: Violence, Murder, Revenge Porn, Crime, Sexual Content
Link Here

Hi everyone! Long time no see.. I’m finally going to post for the first time in almost a month… Again, doing life and reading have been very difficult to do recently. Luckily, with the help of a few entertaining audiobooks, I’m about to get into it again. In the past, reading has proven to be a great escape, but sometimes I get lazy and I’m not perfect. Plus, sometimes I would rather do other things besides reading, and that’s okay too for anyone out there! Anyways, last week I finally finished The Guest List by Lucy Foley over Audible audiobook. I’ve been hearing a lot about this one for a while, and all the good things about it. By the end, I was thrillingly entertained, but also not astounded.

“It’s always better to get it out in the open – even if it feels shameful, even if you feel like people will judge you for it” – Lucy Foley, The Guest List

The Guest List is a crime mystery, thriller novel by UK author Lucy Foley. It takes place on an island off the coast of Ireland surrounding the destination wedding of two high-profile people: an ambitious internet magazine founder, and a gorgeous reality TV star. The story’s perspective jumps around between a few of the guests per chapter, leading up to the moment of a grisly murder taking place on the island after the wedding. The reader is set-up to figure out who is the murderer and who is the killer as the novel progresses until the reveal. We learn the backstories and motives of the guests and wedding party in detail, and learn that not all is joyful on the surface. Who has the motive, and who has the disposition to be killed?

“If I didn’t pay attention, one of those currents could grow into a huge riptide, destroying all my careful planning. And here’s another thing I’ve learned – sometimes the smallest currents are the strongest” – Lucy Foley, The Guest List

The story was wonderfully entertaining, and I loved the backstories of the characters. As far as originality and the big reveal and twist, I was not astounded. The ending did not have the climactic finish I thought it was going to have based on reviews. Maybe it was just me, but I was not too enthusiastic about how it rounded out. The writing and the way the author told the perspectives were great though. And as far as the audiobook version – I loved the audiobook. There were multiple persons narrating for each perspective chapter, and they were all easy to listen to and clear.

“Marriage is about finding that person you know best in the world. Not how they take their coffee or what their favourite film is or the name of their first cat. It’s knowing on a deeper level. It’s knowing their soul” – Lucy Foley, The Guest List

Why should you read this book? If you enjoy easy-to-get-through mystery thrillers taking place on desolate destination wedding islands in a castle, this is the book for you. I’m actually going to a destination wedding myself in July, but it’s in the US Alaskan wilderness so… a bit different than an island off the coast of Ireland. A lot to look forward to though after reading this book, even though I kind of wish I was going to Ireland instead…

I give this one a 3 out of 5!

_Elizabeth

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Rating: 3.5 out of 5 ⭐️
Title: The Bad Muslim Discount: A Novel
Author: Syed M. Masood
Published: 2021 (Doubleday, New York)
Pages: 360 (Hardcover)
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Historical, Literary, Islam, Immigrant Stories
CW: Domestic Violence, Assault, Islamophobia, Discrimination, War, Death, Nationalism
Link Here

Hello! This week I finished another interesting book, and it had the coolest cover art… I honestly love the cover art despite the colorful cheesiness of it all. This book is the novel, The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood. This is the first book I have read by Masood, and I believe he is a fairly new author. I was definitely attracted to the story upon first stumbling onto this book online. And after reading this wise novel, I was a fan!

“‘Yet you are not modest like a Muslim woman. Your dress betrays what is in your heart’….
She spoke sweetly, but her words had the edge of a knife. ‘And your gaze betrays what is in yours‘”
– Syed M. Masood, The Bad Muslim Discount

The story focuses on the perspectives of the two main characters: Anwar Faris, a smart and sharp-tongued man from Pakistan who lives in San Francisco near his close-knit family, and Safwa, a young and fiery woman who grew up in war-torn Baghdad, and had a tumultuous time immigrating to the US with her domineering father. Their paths cross in San Francisco directly affecting their communities as they each tell their story. This novel examines what it is like to be an immigrant from a Muslim country in America, and the bonds formed with a tight-knit familial community united by Islam. The author also covers difficult historical and current topics of Islamophobia in America, the Muslim Ban in 2017 and America’s war-time presence in Iraq in the 2000s. For how downtrodden the story was at times, there were also more positive themes such as hope, community and love.

“It isn’t enough to be right. When you raise your voice to speak, you must speak the truth, but you should speak it in the most persuasive way possible” – Syed M. Masood, The Bad Muslim Discount

Overall, I liked this one! It definitely was not the most impactful or revealing novel about the Muslim community experience in America. Honestly, it was a bit more lighthearted and not depth-filled as I thought it was going to be. The humor and conversations between characters is fantastic though, and the author’s witty writing really shines in this novel. This mostly comes from the main character’s personality, Anwar, though. But the emotion is really felt in the writing and it was a joy to read at times. I read in the bio about the author, Masood, that he also immigrated from Pakistan so I wonder how much of his experiences reflect the experiences of the main character and community in the novel.

“For Anvar and Americans like him, their election was the most important thing in the world – and maybe that was fair – but these people, who claimed to be leaders of the free world, didn’t know the world at all. They didn’t understand its nature or its size. They thought it was smaller that it was, and that they were bigger than they were” – Syed M. Masood, The Bad Muslim Discount

The only aspect I was really not a fan of were the love stories in this novel. It was super cheesy, and maybe that is just me (because I’m not into super cheesy love stories). But it was pretty cliche, and I was not a fan of how they rounded out. The romance aspect was definitely in a male perspective, which was interesting. But overall, I get how it tied the characters and some of the story together. There could have been more in-depth exploring between the characters and their relationships instead of relying mostly on small dialogue between them.

“Clocks cannot measure time. They can count seconds, minutes and hours, but those are not accurate measures of our experience of time. A day of hunger is longer than a day when you’ve eaten. How quickly time passes isn’t constant. An hour can stretch out and seem unending. A year can pass you by before you know it” – Syed M. Masood, The Bad Muslim Discount

Why should you read this book? If you’re into novels with characters with a lot of heart and wit that explore Muslim and immigrant experiences in America in a humorous and exploratory way, this is the book for you. Definitely go into this one with an open mind, and be prepared to read some difficult subject matter. But it’s worth it if you’re interested in reading more novels that explore the topic of Muslim immigrant experiences.

Have a great weekend everyone!

I give this one a 3.5 out of 5!

_Elizabeth

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