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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
alliep has commented on (46) products
We Shall Be Monsters
by
Tara Sim
alliep
, July 02, 2024
This is one of my favorite YA books of the year so far! I've been interested for a while in Tara Sim's books, specifically "The Dark Gods" series, but just haven't gotten around to reading them yet. Jumped into "We Shall Be Monsters" without knowing much about her writing style but was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed it. I like the way she writes dialogue, develops her characters and magic system, and the way she sets a scene. "We Shall Be Monsters" was mishmash of all kinds of things that I love in one book. I love the mythology and worldbuilding, and the darker themes including death and necromancy, yet there's a lightness too that made it an enjoyable read. The only thing I didn't completely love is the way that the story ended, which was on a cliffhanger to be continued in the sequel. I kind of wish that it was condensed into one book, but am still looking forward to the next one!
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Thirsty: A Novel
by
Jas Hammonds
alliep
, June 22, 2024
Jas Hammonds continues to impress me! I loved their debut, "We Deserve Monuments," and was very excited to give their new book a read.
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Last Murder at the End of the World
by
Stuart Turton
alliep
, April 24, 2024
One of my most anticipated reads of the year! This is the latest whodunit by Stuart Turton, and I feel like people who liked his previous books will like this one, and those who didn't probably won't. It's a whodunit with speculative elements, and that's been what I've been enjoying most about Turton, the fact that he plays with the mystery genre. This time we're transported into an apocalyptic world far in the future where the last humans alive live on an island surrounded by deadly fog. The only thing keeping them alive is a defense system. Then one of the scientists in control of this system is killed, and the remaining people need to solve this murder or else the defenses will go down in just a few days.. I enjoy Turton's writing, the characters, the pacing, and the twisty narrative. I was kept on the edge of my seat and was constantly wanting to know how things would play out.
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Hearts Still Beating
by
Brooke Archer
alliep
, April 24, 2024
Unexpected and original read. I'm not the biggest fan of zombie stories, but I will read just about anything that's queer, and this was like no other zombie story I've read before. It's an imagining of an After, where a cure is found and humanity isn't destined for complete and total destruction. People thought lost for good or dead are brought back, but only if they undergo a daily treatment. A cure is only the first step to a happy ending, however. Really amazing representation, with both queer content and disability. It's not a romance, but it does have its moments, and I love a good slowburn. Mara and Rory are such likable and engaging characters. It's mostly a story about the slow process of healing and I really loved it! So it's not the most fast-paced story, but I think that worked well. I'm so looking forward to whatever the author might write next.
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A Tempest of Tea
by
Hafsah Faizal
alliep
, February 25, 2024
Good but not a new favorite. I love the setting, and the author has great writing when it comes to this aspect and her characters. Arthie in particular is an incredibly interesting character and I enjoyed getting to know her throughout the story. The pacing is a bit slow, but I didn't really feel impatient for the plot to get a move on or anything. I also didn't really like where the book ended, which was with a cliffhanger. I was aware that it was the first book in a series, so I was expecting that. People of course are saying that "A Tempest of Tea" is comparable to "Six of "Crows" and "The Gilded Wolves," being that it's a fantasy YA heist story, but I have to say that going into the book with those expectations will probably not go well. I personally didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed those books. I do really want to know where the story goes, so I'm planning on reading the second book.
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These Deadly Prophecies
by
Andrea Tang
alliep
, February 09, 2024
I really enjoyed the start of this book, and thought it did well introducing the main character, and introducing us to the murder mystery. It's a contemporary setting with magical elements; magic is a normalized part of life and it's a really interesting take on the genre. It focuses on the magic of prophecy specifically, as in this world it's a more rare talent. The main character, Tabatha, is apprentice to the most famous sorcerer in the world, and he dies, after prophesying his own death. She teams up with his son, Callum, to figure out who did it. This was so interesting! I was really excited to read more. The rest of the book didn't meet my expectations, though. It was really fast-paced, but the book felt short. The world building was lacking. I was hoping for more focus on the characters and the relationships forming. I did like the book, but I didn't love it. Also, the ending was just... frustrating!
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The Invocations
by
Krystal Sutherland
alliep
, February 07, 2024
Since I loved Sutherland's previous book, "House of Hollow," so much, I really tried not to go into this one with my expectations too high. I don't think it would've mattered if I did though, because "The Invocations" was even better. This book has everything that I loved about "House of Hollow," including the author's absolutely gorgeous, evocative, skillful writing style that brings the world to life. It's creepy, it's even more gruesome, and the mystery at the heart of the story is even more engaging and thrilling, as it's about a serial killer going after witches. One thing about HoH I was a bit let down by was the ending, but "The Invocations" completely delivers. I also ended up more invested in the characters. I'm blown away. Love this book; love the body horror, the queerness, the witchiness, everything. I can't wait to see what Sutherland writes next, and I want the Illumicrate/Evernight edition SO much now.
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Check & Mate
by
Ali Hazelwood
alliep
, November 08, 2023
I was so excited to read this book, pretty confident going into it that I'd love it, and I did. I love Ali Hazelwood's sense of humor in her adult romances, and that carries over into "Check & Mate." I also like that it's all about chess; there's something about fictional media about competitions that is so exciting! I liked the characters, and the slowburn romance too. It was enjoyable all around. The only thing I really have to criticize is that... I don't feel like Mal or Nolan would ever exist in real life. They had their share of traumas, but were kind of... too shiny. Chess geniuses AND super hot. And this might seem like a little thing, but my suspension of disbelief regarding them being the two best chess players in the world broke when they were playing tic-tac-toe. It's pretty easy to learn how to win/draw at any game you play with anyone, and really boring once you figure it out. I have a hard time believing two people so smart wouldn't, and would be playing seriously.
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Gorgeous Gruesome Faces
by
Linda Cheng
alliep
, November 08, 2023
I really enjoyed this! Probably one of my favorite YA titles I've read this year, and it's an excellent thriller with horror elements as well. It first caught my attention because it has the most eye-catching, gorgeous, and somewhat unnerving covers of the year. It exceeded my expectations, though. I really loved Sunny, and the exploration of her complicated relationship with Candie. The story moves back and forth between "Now" and four years "Before" to depict how they got to know each other, and how they fell apart amidst the pressures of stardom and the third girl in their group jumping to her death... The horror elements were less prominent than I thought they would be, and the ending was also not all that satisfying, and I'm not thrilled to learn that it's the first book in a series. I would still read something else by this author though! Really enjoyed this.
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I Loved You in Another Life
by
David Arnold
alliep
, October 10, 2023
I love David Arnold's writing!! I don't mean to sound disparaging to other YA writers, but not many others do it like him! It's genuinely incredible how easily he's able to suck you into a story with his characters and entertaining writing style, often funny, sometimes heartwrenching. It's all of the things the blurbs say it is. "I consider the variety of analogies I might use to convey my heroically sh*tty night: Cheese-dust-on-your-fingers awful? Preface-your-Facebook-post awful? If someone calling when they could have texted were a night out, that was my night." Does this book being about two teens' love for each other outlasting everything sound tired to me? With tons of tragedy mixed in? Sure. But the execution is amazing. I loved the slow progression and melding of Evan and Shosh's storylines. I loved The Electric Kingdom too, and am looking forward to whatever he writes next.
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Bittersweet in the Hollow
by
Kate Pearsall
alliep
, October 10, 2023
Excellent! I enjoyed this so much. "Bittersweet in the Hollow" has an awesome, entrancing setup, and it follows through with an engaging plot. It's a little slow to start, but I really enjoyed the time it spent establishing Linden, the main character, her sisters and friends, and the love interest Cole. Linden went missing a year ago, and she can't remember anything that happened during that time. Now that another girl has not only gone missing like her, but turned up dead, she decides to try and figure out what's going on herself. With some help, of course.
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Bell in the Fog
by
Lev AC Rosen
alliep
, October 10, 2023
I loved the first book, "Lavender House," so much, and was so excited when I realized it was becoming a series. I'm happy to say that I loved the sequel as well. Andy is an excellent main character, and while I think he carries this book a bit (the first book as well), I also liked the cast of minor characters. One thing about this sequel is that it didn't feel like much of a mystery story this time around. Hopefully the next book has a tightly written mystery like the first book again.
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Changing Man
by
Tomi Oyemakinde
alliep
, September 28, 2023
This book was fine. I love the prologue, as it was the perfect sort of introduction to the threat in the book, known as "The Changing Man." Not totally original, but I like these kinds of openings. It's once we're introduced to the main character, Ife, and the story continues from from that point that I started to get bored. It felt like nothing was really happening, or at least it didn't keep me in suspense at all. I think that what I was expecting from this book, from the summary and such, was a lot different from what it is. I thought it would be a horror/thriller mystery, but it's really not.
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Meadows
by
Stephanie Oakes
alliep
, September 12, 2023
The cover is the most eye-catching cover of the year for me, and it has writing to match. Dreamy and evocative, slowly enveloping you in its dystopian world. I specifically love how it gradually lets you in on just how the world is operating, and what the purpose of The Meadows is. It works wonderfully as a suspenseful read, and was at times chilling.
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All You Have to Do
by
Autumn Allen
alliep
, August 30, 2023
"All You Have to Do" is an excellent book for both young adult and adult audiences. It's a dual-POV book where both main characters have an equally important part in the overall story. They're both young black men coming of age in different time periods, and having these two POVs shows both how society has changed and how it hasn't in regards to racism in America, specifically regarding its educational institutions and the way people are denied education as a means of suppression. The characters are Gibran, whose part takes place in the 90s, and his uncle Kevin, whose part is in the 60s.
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House of Marionne 01
by
J Elle
alliep
, August 30, 2023
This was a fun and decently-paced read. It starts off fast and then slows down once Quell is out of danger for a while. I liked the chemistry between the leads, Quell and Jordan, and especially liked the development of their friendship first. I wasn't really sucked into the world, though. At this point I've probably read too much YA fantasy, but not many books feel very original to me anymore.
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The Last Girls Standing
by
Jennifer Dugan
alliep
, August 16, 2023
The summary gives away too much, which is annoying, but thankfully I didn't really read it before getting into "The Last Girls Standing." Which is a one of a kind book and nothing like what I was expecting. All you need to know is that Sloan and Cherry are the "last girls" who met, became romantically involved at, and survived a summer camp massacre, and that there's more to the story than it first seems. I was needing more less-predictable psychological thrillers, as well as more thrillers where I actually care about the main character, and this book delivered. I was invested in Sloan, and loved the twisted path the story took. It was messed up and exciting, which goes for the relationship between her and Cherry as well. I wouldn't read this book if you have sensitivity to heavy trauma and/or toxic relationships depicted in fiction. The story is a bit slow, and there isn't a whole lot of action, but this sort of storytelling worked for me. Really enjoyed this.
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True True
by
Don P Hooper
alliep
, August 01, 2023
"...everywhere make it abundantly clear the colonizers have returned." * This was good! I liked the characters, especially Gil, and the overall progression of the story. Gil was a breath of fresh air. He knows exactly who he is and what he wants to do with his life, and he removes himself from the comfort of his last year at high school with friends in order to attend a prep school to better prepare for college.The author did an incredible job rooting Gil in his community and then dropping him into Augusten Prep like a fish out of water. Hooper's writing in general was really good.
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Woman Inside
by
M T Edvardsson
alliep
, June 21, 2023
I enjoyed "A Nearly Normal Family," so I was looking forward to Edvardsson's new thriller. Overall I liked "The Woman Inside" too, but I definitely wasn't as engaged with the story. I think this is mostly because I didn't care much about the characters. Karla was definitely sympathetic and her part in the story was my favorite, but the others I was very meh on. The writing also seemed a lot more meh than A Nearly Normal Family, even though they have the same translator.
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Garden of the Cursed
by
Katy Rose Pool
alliep
, June 21, 2023
I went into this book expecting a lot, because fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, and I wasn't disappointed. That trope set in a fantasy world with a mystery and a romance at its core sounded like the perfect book to me. I wouldn't call "Garden of the Cursed" perfect, but the elements I loved I REALLY loved.
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Threads That Bind 01
by
Kika Hatzopoulou
alliep
, June 01, 2023
I liked a lot of the world-building elements in this book, but some felt odd or not as fleshed out as they could've been. For example, the explanation on how other-born individuals come to be, and everything to do with the Fortuna Gang. Also, something that didn't work for me is the made up cultures in this world. It was a weak aspect, and I didn't like the way details and beliefs from real cultures were applied to them. My favorite parts of the book were Io and Edei investigating together and getting to know each other. The tension of Io knowing that they're connected by a fate-thread but Edei not was also good. I liked how their relationship developed and especially the exciting end to Part 1.
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I Like Me Better
by
Robby Weber
alliep
, May 03, 2023
Zack is a soccer star on his high school team, loved by pretty much everyone, and he's a guy who cares a lot about other people too. Especially his team, which is why he takes the fall for his upperclassman, who executed a distasteful prank on another school. As punishment, he has to do community service and isn't allowed back on the team for a while, but there's a silver lining. By volunteering at the Marine Institute, he gets to spend time with Chip, a guy he had a meet cute with facilitated by his dog. A guy who he instantly falls for, but who thinks, along with everyone else, that he did that awful prank... Loved the progression of the story, and I loved the writing as well. The dialogue in particular. I like what the author did with the antagonist in the story as well. Also Zack and Chip were extremely cute and their relationship developed into something really special. It's exactly what I wanted out of a YA contemporary romance.
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Lying in the Deep
by
Diana Urban
alliep
, May 02, 2023
Had a lot of fun reading this! It has an explosive beginning and an explosive ending. It starts with our main character Jade discovering the room of Lainey, her ex-best friend, empty and covered in blood, and then goes back in time to tell the story up to that point. Oh and it takes place on a cruise ship, so whoever could have done something to Lainey is still on board... This is the first book I've read by Diana Urban, and I liked it quite a lot. Jade is an interesting, somewhat unlikable character, but unlikable in a way that I personally enjoyed. The tone with which she and the other teenage characters were written was perfect. The writing in general was good; not too descriptive, and funny at times. I liked Felix as well. Like with all mystery stories, you might get an inkling of what's going on, or how the story might wrap up, so I did kind of guess how things would go down in the end... but not all of the details. I specifically love how it concludes, and what it did regarding Jade and Lainey's relationship.. A definite page-turner.
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Star Splitter
by
Matthew J. Kirby
alliep
, April 25, 2023
There are a number of points where I stopped reading for a minute to just stare somewhere else at the existential horror of realizing what the book had just revealed. One of these moments had to do with the idea of your data, meaning everything that makes you you, being corrupted during teleportation, in the same way that any computer data can be corrupted when being transferred. And are you really you if your body is destroyed and reconstructed elsewhere? And what about trauma? Does trauma make you less yourself? And if you could start over, technically, without that trauma you experienced, would you do it? I appreciated what this book did with these ideas so much.
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Nightbirds
by
Kate J Armstrong
alliep
, February 28, 2023
A bit disappointing, but I was expecting a lot from this book. I love the premise so much, one which promised a world where a nonsecular government has banned magic because of their belief that only gods should be able to use it, and three magic girls whose abilities must remain hidden. It has those elements, but what it did with them didn't really impress me.
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Angel Maker
by
Alex North
alliep
, February 27, 2023
Alex North's third horror thriller, and it didn't disappoint! I was a fan of both "The Whisper Man" and "The Shadows," and I really enjoyed this one as well. It's a bit weirder, explores more ideas, and is overall a less tight story, it but made for a more interesting read.
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Promise Boys
by
Nick Brooks
alliep
, January 31, 2023
I love how this book is constructed, half like a regular book with POVs from the three main characters, and half like a documentary. Those parts are short chapters from a variety of characters who give their perspective on J.B., Trey, or Ramón, and what they think happened to Principal Moore. The writing flowed really well, and I pretty much flew through the entire book. My favorite part is the last quarter, where the characters all come together to solve the mystery. There wasn't a big sort of reveal or shocking twist, but the conclusion was satisfying.
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Wrong Kind of Weird
by
James Ramos
alliep
, January 03, 2023
"The Wrong Kind of Weird" is about Cameron, who's a nerdy guy, Karla, who's the most popular girl in school, and Mackenzie, who doesn't quite fit in with anyone. Cameron and Karla are in a secret relationship. Cameron and Mackenzie have a hate-at-first sight relationship, despite having similar interests. It's a love triangle. I was hoping the story would be more about deconstructing the idea of a school hierarchy, and I thought it would be a lot more queer than it was. As is, it's a story about a guy deciding between two girls. It just didn't progress in a very interesting way, and I felt like Cameron and Mackenzie's bond was kind of shallow. I'm sure the target audience will have a different perspective on this one.
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We Deserve Monuments
by
Jas Hammonds
alliep
, November 29, 2022
"We Deserve Monuments" is a new YA contemporary favorite, and such an impressive debut. I loved the characters (especially Avery, as she is complex and encompasses everything I love in a MC), and the writing is great. This is a story about trauma, racism, coming out, the power of true friendship, and healing a broken family before it's too late. I loved it so much.
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The Poison Season
by
Mara Rutherford
alliep
, November 27, 2022
"The Poison Season" has my favorite kind of vibes... A magical, eerie forest surrounding an insular village on an island in the middle of a poisonous lake. The people on the island are called Endlans and they live symbiotically with the forest. They lure people with song to the forest to be sacrificed, and the forest in return protects them. The atmosphere is immaculate, both with the writing and progression of events. Outsiders are forbidden and even killed, and people born on the island who don't develop magical abilities are exiled. Our main character Leelo knows something is wrong about it, especially because her little brother Tate is soon to be forced out, and her relationships with her friends and family are so genuine. The romance was pretty good too. I love how both her and Jaren are separately developed as characters before bringing them together. I suppose the only thing is I wish there was more time spent with Leelo and Jaren getting to know each other before they start having feelings for each other, but otherwise I enjoyed pretty much everything! Really well-paced as well. "The wolf is always at the doorstep... That is why we Watch."* *quote from ARC
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Lavender House
by
Lev AC Rosen
alliep
, October 18, 2022
While this is a fantastic book, I would say that it isn't quite what I expected. It's not a thriller, which I've seen it tagged as; I think it would be best described as a cozy, historical mystery (though, with some less than cozy themes). It's also a slower-paced sort of story, which didn't bother me at all.
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A Scatter of Light
by
Malinda Lo
alliep
, October 09, 2022
I was really looking forward to reading "A Scatter of Light," and I'm so so happy that it didn't disappoint. "Last Night at the Telegraph Club" has been on my radar for a while, and while I didn't get to read that book before this one, I loved ASOL completely and am even more excited to pick LNATTC up.
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Frizzy
by
Claribel A Ortega, Rose Bousamra
alliep
, October 09, 2022
What an important and heartfelt message this graphic novel is sending out there, of accepting yourself as you are, especially when it comes to beauty standards affecting young girls. There are some dramatic moments, and they are so clearly expressed and Marlene is such a likeable and sympathetic character that I felt devastated along with her. This book also touches on the core of why the perception of hair types being "good" and "bad" is so ingrained in society; ie, anti-blackness. The story is charming and mostly lighthearted, though. And the art compliments it well! The characters are drawn so expressively, and I especially love the colors. They're so vibrant and pretty. I would say that the ending wraps up a little too neatly, but I think it's appropriate for the actual target audience. And anyway, I found plenty to love, so I think kids will adore it even more.
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The Sunbearer Trials (Sunbearer Duology #1)
by
Aiden Thomas
alliep
, September 13, 2022
One of my favorite starts to a duology in a very long time! I feel like I read so many books in the past couple of years that were the first part of a duology, and while I enjoyed quite a few, I haven't finished one and been so excited for the next book in a while. The only one I loved almost as much is "Daughter of the Moon Goddess." I've read all of Aiden Thomas's books and love them all.
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Coven
by
Jennifer Dugan and Kit Seaton
alliep
, September 05, 2022
I love comics of all shapes and sizes and I love witchy stories, so Coven was a must read for me. The main characters are all queer too, which is a bonus. I enjoyed this book for what it was, which is a pretty short story about a teenage girl who is forced into a role she never wanted, and a boy who wants his family back. The two work together to achieve one another's goals; they'll bring back Ben's family from the dead so Emsy can go back to her normal life in California. I wish there was more that happens, because as is this book feels a little lacking. Worldbuilding details also felt missing and underdeveloped, as if a lot was cut out. I also wasn't fully convinced of Emsy's newfound friendship with Ben and Ash. Like, there wasn't a moment where I though, Well of course she chooses them over her old friends and girlfiend. It just kind of happens, and there's this whole, 'You've changed" scene that felt out of place. That said, I'd love a sequel to build on what I found missing from this book.
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The Godmothers
by
Monica McInerney
alliep
, August 16, 2022
Story-wise, this is my favorite kind of contemporary read. It’s a heartfelt story about grief, even years after the fact, but more than that it’s about a young woman learning about her mother’s past, about strengthening the bonds between her and who she has left, and about creating new bonds along the way. I don’t think it’s the perfect book, as I found it a little too long with some plotty details I didn’t really care about much, but it was overall a pleasure to read.
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We All Fall Down
by
Rose Szabo
alliep
, July 09, 2022
I felt pretty dissuaded from reading this book because of the slew of poor reviews it’s been getting, but I forced myself to start. I read a fair bit and wasn’t feeling it.
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Kings of Bmore
by
R Eric Thomas
alliep
, July 04, 2022
“You got a real star-crossed friendship here, Linus.” This is a one of a kind book that apologizes for absolutely nothing and I loved it. It’s about two queer black teenagers who are best friends, and it celebrates that friendship so beautifully. It’s also the kind of book I tabbed a lot because the writing was charming and excellent.
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Elsewhere
by
Alexis Schaitkin
alliep
, July 04, 2022
I never really got into the more buzzy feminist dystopia-type books, and I supposed going into this book I was expecting something like “The Handmaid’s Tale,” or “The Water Cure.” And I see bits of those stories here, but it’s also very different, and much more tailored to things I personally love. I love culty, insulated, small-town-type horror stories, and I love a bit of oddness and vagueness to storytelling, and I love a story with immersive, descriptive writing. “Elsewhere” is all of that and more.
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Cherry Robbers
by
Sarai Walker
alliep
, May 20, 2022
I read the first chapter and had that rare gut feeling of knowing that this was a book I was going to love. So I would recommend this: read the first chapter, and if the writing connects with you in that first part, and the narration and story so far intrigues you, don't look up any other reviews and go into the rest of the book blind. Read this if you love gothic books with gorgeous prose writing, feminist and queer elements, some spookiness, and a whole lot of tragedy.
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Siren Queen
by
Nghi Vo
alliep
, May 16, 2022
The way the cover feels is the way the story feels—alluring and dangerous. I loved Nghi Vo’s other books, her novellas and “The Chosen and the Beautiful,” so I was really looking forward to this, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s exciting, it's queer, it's magical and monstrous and has a setting to die for. It has a main character who’s ambitious and who I wanted with every fiber of my being as a reader to succeed. This book is stunning. I'll read anything Nghi Vo writes in the future.
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Hotel Magnifique
by
Emily J. Taylor
alliep
, April 08, 2022
The best part of this book is the setting and the magic, and what I did get of that I really liked! The way the hotel works, and the danger that magical people pose. I wanted more of it, though. As is the setting felt underutilized.
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All My Rage
by
Sabaa Tahir
alliep
, April 04, 2022
This was a good story. It’s wonderfully written; you can tell Tahir crafted it carefully with her whole heart in it. It’s a story with a strong focus on Islam and grief. Music is big in this book too, though I was admittedly not interested in this aspect. Whenever a song was named I was either like, Yeah, heard that one before, or, Haven’t heard that one before. I also never felt particularly attached to the characters.
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(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
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A Magic Steeped in Poison
by
Judy I. Lin
alliep
, April 04, 2022
This book is a magical love letter to the art of tea-making and food, about a girl who joins a competition to save her beloved sister’s life. It’s also about friendship, and political corruption, and it’s infused with Chinese culture and mythology. There are so many mouth-watering descriptions of food. Meat buns and soups and sticky rice cakes and sweet-and-sour fish and all sorts of desserts—jellies and cookies and pastries filled with red bean paste. I loved this book, for the most part, for its descriptiveness(not just of food, but of scenery and architecture as well), its pacing, its plot. There’s the romance, which was just okay, but I personally don’t like instalove. If you’re a fan of when the main female character and male character meet and it’s very apparent that there’s some attraction between them and that they’ll act on this attraction after only a handful of interactions, you’ll probably also like it in this book. Their relationship does take an interesting turn, though. I also really enjoyed the way things came together in the end... Looking forward to the sequel, especially after that cliffhanger ending.
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The Lost Dreamer
by
Lizz Huerta
alliep
, March 02, 2022
"The Lost Dreamer" is a story set in a Mesoamerican fantasy world that revolves around Dreaming. I was really into the descriptive otherworldliness of the dreaming world and the spirits that inhabit it, and the way that the characters experienced it. I was interested in the overall worldbuilding, and I liked the two POVs, that of Indir and Saya, though Saya's I preferred. I found some parts a bit meandering, some details a bit confusing. There's one thing I didn't really like, and I feel like this happens a lot with fantasy YA titles that I pick up primarily for the fantasy aspect: the main romantic relationship in the story. I wasn't interested in it from the start, and by the end still didn't really care. Also it's unpleasant thinking you're reading a standalone only for the book to end inconclusively. I guess it's a duology? I didn't see it advertised as such. It was a good story, but I'm not sure I care enough to read the sequel.
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Ophelia After All
by
Racquel Marie
alliep
, February 13, 2022
This book isn't a romance; it's about Ophelia finding herself, and her relationship with her friends. I loved this book's lovely descriptiveness of food, the unapologetic use of Spanglish throughout, and Ophelia's love for roses and gardening. The direction the story took was unexpected, but it was good. It's a wonderful queer coming of age story!
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