Stephany Writes

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (9.8.20)

Happy Tuesday, friends! I had a lovely long weekend, although I spent most of it packing and cleaning my apartment. Things are getting serious around here, as I’ve packed up my spices and shelf-stable food, haha. I also took some time yesterday to visit my mom and float in the pool for a few hours. Much needed! 🙂

I’m happy to have a great list of book reviews for you guys today! I finished five books over these last two weeks and most of them were excellent:

Once in a Lifetime by Jill Shalvis (★★★☆☆)

Short synopsis: Aubrey is determined to right all of the wrongs she committed when she was younger so she created a list of the people she needs to apologize to. She doesn’t expect Ben, one of the people she needs to make amends with, to help her during her mission.

Mehhhh. I gave this book 3 stars because there were parts that were very good: I loved the exploration of bullying and making amends, and the friendships in this novel were rock-solid. I knew I wasn’t going to love this book when Aubrey, a bookstore owner, continually made disparaging comments to patrons who visited her bookstore looking for romance novels. Jill, why you gotta do your fans dirty like that? I can see something like that happening in general fiction, but in a romance novel? Come on now. (Also, can we stop with the idea that everyone looking for romance only wants to read Fifty Shades of Grey? It’s not even a romance novel! ARGH!) Anyway, the love story itself was fine. It was a little lackluster but I didn’t love the plot device of making Ben’s late wife into a villain for the purposes of the love story. Basically: This book was not my favorite and Jill can do better than this.

Inside the O’Briens by Lisa Genova (★★★★★)

Short synopsis: At 44, Joe is diagnosed with Huntington’s disease and learns he may only live another 10-20 years. And because it’s an inherited disease, he may have passed along this fatal condition to his four children. 

Oh, this book was so very heartbreaking and it will make my top-10 list at the end of the year. I didn’t know anything about Huntington’s disease before reading this book, but man, what a brutal condition. This book focuses on Joe and his youngest child, Katie, who is 21 and trying to make the decision about whether or not to get tested. (All of Joe’s children can get tested to determine if they have the genetic marker for this condition.) We learn all the ways HD is impacting Joe’s life, as it causes mood swings, sudden outbursts, confusion, and jerky movements. What I found most impactful, though, was the way Joe’s diagnosis affected his children. Not only do they have to come to terms with the fact that their father is dying young and will do so in a brutal way (eventually, Joe won’t be able to communicate or even feed himself), but they also have to decide whether or not to get tested. It’s a tough decision for all of the kids, as there are pros and cons to either option, knowing or not knowing. I like how this decision played out with each child and especially with Katie.

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: In order to win a $10,000 scholarship so she can attend the college of her dreams, social outcast Liz Lighty must try to become prom queen.

This book was so much fun! I loved the exploration of prom culture and its absurdities (the book began with a “promposal,” if that gives you any idea of what you’ll be getting into), and I adored Liz Lighty as a character. She is funny and sweet and smart and knows what she wants. She was such an easy character to root for! There is a cute love story involving Liz (who is queer but not exactly “out” at school) and another girl vying for prom queen, and man, did it turn my heart to mush. This is Leah Johnson’s debut and I am so excited to see where she goes from here!

The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race edited by Jesmyn Ward (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: This essay collection, published 53 years after James Baldwin’s iconic The Fire Next Time, gathers some of today’s most influential thought leaders to talk about race.

This essay collection came highly recommended and it was one among MANY books on my antiracist reading list. I’m so glad I finally read this book and took it as slowly as I did. It took me 18 days to finish this slim volume as I read one essay (or poem) a day so I could fully immerse myself in each writer’s story. Some of the essays were better than others, making it a bit of an uneven essay collection, but the essays that were good were really, really good. Like Garnette Cadogan’s essay Black and Blue that reflects on his love for walking around the streets of Jamaica, a hobby that became dangerous when he moved to the States. Or Emily Raboteau’s photo essay Know Your Rights! chronicling the murals of the same name found in the five boroughs of New York City that inform Black people of their rights when they are stopped by police. The essay collection was solid but with many of the essays leaving me wanting more, it’s a three-star read for me. (Which means I liked it, but didn’t love it.)

Fumbled by Alexa Martin (★★☆☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: When Poppy runs into her high school sweetheart and realizes she still has feelings for him, she knows she’s going to have to tell him the truth—he has a nine-year-old son.

Oof, the secret baby trope is my LEAST favorite in the romance genre because the reason why a woman would keep her baby a secret from the father is never justified, in my opinion. However, in this novel, it worked. Mostly. I could understand Poppy’s reasoning but I still think TK deserved to know he had a son. Here’s what I liked about this romance: most of the characters were BIPOC, the discussion about CTEs with football players, and the female friendships. All of this was good stuff. However, this book could have used a stronger editor. There were so many additional asides and details that weren’t necessary, such as this really weird side plot about a stalker that didn’t propel the story forward in any way and ended in such a lackluster way. When I’m spending more of my time editing a novel than I am enjoying it, something’s wrong. Not one I would recommend, unfortunately.

What I’m Reading This Week

  • Deacon King Kong by James McBride (audio) – I don’t even know how this book got on my radar but it did, and I put in a Libby request for the audiobook. It is EXCELLENT. It’s very character-driven, which is why it’s working really well for me on audio. But I definitely need a character map to keep all the characters straight!
  • A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris (print) – I’m still making my way through this novel (it’s my “slow and steady” read right now and I’m finishing about 50 pages per week). Honestly, none of the characters in the novel are very likable and it’s starting to feel like a slog.
  • The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (e-book) – I loved The Royal We and I was excited when the authors announced they were writing a follow-up. This book is LONG (464 pages!) but I’m here for all of this William & Kate fanfic. 🙂
  • Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai (e-book) – My romance pick for the week! Alisha Rai is solidly a 3-star author for me (I find her writing to juuuust miss the mark for me) so I’m going into this book with low expectations and hoping it surprises me.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (8.24.20)

Happy Monday, friends! I had a lovely weekend of shopping with my mom and enjoying game night with the fam. I haven’t seen my brother in weeks and it was so nice to catch up with him! And, of course, there was plenty of time for naps, cat snuggling, and reading. I mean, that’s a given, right?

Last week, I finished four books. Astonishing! Having two days off during the week definitely helped me knock out some books. 🙂 Let’s dive into the reviews.

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord (★★★★★)

One-sentence synopsis: It’s been a year since Paige’s boyfriend, Aaron, died in a freak drowning accident and she has a plan to move forward: join a club and get the cutest guy at school, Ryan, to be her boyfriend.

YA love stories are my sweet spot, and this one was no exception. I could not put this book down for anything and it just made me happy-sigh constantly as I was reading. I loved the exploration of grief in this novel, especially the grief over losing someone you had only known for a short time. Paige and Aaron had only been dating for two months when he died, so she’s not as emotionally devastated as, say, his best friend but she’s still grieving—grieving the boy she knew and the man he wanted to be and the plans they’d never make. However, this book isn’t a sad one. It’s hopeful and fun and sweet, as Paige learns to move forward with her life. The love story was beautifully written and the emphasis placed on Paige’s relationships with her girlfriends was inspiring. A good novel to pick up if you need a “palate cleanser” after reading a bunch of heavy books.

Applied Electromagnetism by Susannah Nix (★★★★★)

One-sentence synopsis: Coworkers Olivia and Adam aren’t too fond of one another, but they’re going to have to learn to get along when they’re paired together for an offsite work project.

Oooh, I just loved this contemporary romance! Susannah Nix has been very hit-or-miss for me so I truly wasn’t expecting much from this novel, but it far exceeded my expectations. It combines the tropes of enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity, giving me a novel that was so hard to put down. Olivia and Adam were so easy to like and so much fun together that I was rooting for their romance from the start. Plus, there was a really interesting exploration of sexism in the workplace, particularly as a woman in the STEM field, that I found inspiring. Such a fun book and I’m so glad I didn’t give up on Nix after a few lackluster novels in this series!

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: A fictionalized retelling of the life of Hedy Lamarr, a Jewish woman who escaped Austria in 1937 and went on to become a Hollywood starlet.

I think one of my sweet spots is fictionalized retellings of a real person’s life. They aren’t novels that will get five-star, glowing reviews from me but I do find them comforting to sink into. This novel was no exception, as I loved getting an insight into the Holocaust from an entirely different perspective. Hedy Lamarr was married to Friedrich Mandl, Austria’s most infamous ammunition manufacturer who eventually sold weapons to Hitler. Hedy is Jewish, although her husband kept that fact a secret from the many men he dealt with. Hedy ends up escaping from her husband and becoming a famous Hollywood actress as well as an inventor. What a life, huh?! I enjoyed this novel, although I thought the writing was a bit lackluster and I felt like the ending was rushed and anticlimatic. But I appreciate all the research that went into this book and getting to know Hedy Lamarr, who was such an interesting person.

Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Rafe has one week to convince his soon-to-be sister-in-law that marrying his brother is the right choice, although the more time he spends with her, the more he’s convinced HE is the right choice.

What a fun historical romance! I loved Rafe and the heroine in this novel, Clio, who was sweet and witty and so much fun to root for. She was a good juxtaposition to Rafe, who was described as a brute many times. Rafe is a prizefighter who has been out of the ring for some time and his brother, the man Clio is engaged to marry, is more of the classic Regency hero: a peer, someone with means and a more noble job, etc. This novel was all about the expectations a family can place on a person, as well as the expectations we place on ourselves to live up to our family’s ideal of us, and the way Tessa Dare dismantled these notions was perfection. I was rooting for Rafe and Clio to make it from the beginning, and ugh, I just loved this novel so much!

What I’m Reading This Week

  • The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race, edited by Jesmyn Ward – I’m reading one essay a day in this essay collection with a wide range of Black voices. It’s excellent so far.
  • Inside the O’Briens by Lisa Genova – I’ve had this book on my TBR for five years now, and I’m finally picking it up! It has rave reviews from friends so I’m looking forward to digging in, although a little apprehensive since the subject matter isn’t exactly light.
  • Once in a Lifetime by Jill Shalvis – A Jill Shalvis romance is usually exactly what I need to power through an emotionally heavy read. I’m excited to start this one.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (8.17.20)

Happy Monday, friends! I am on pins and needles, waiting to find out if I’m going to be called in to be a poll worker tomorrow. While it would be nice to have a “dry run” before the big election in November, I also wouldn’t be too upset to have another calm, relaxing day at home before jumping back into work tomorrow. Hehe. I’m definitely planning on writing about my experience, whether or not I actually work the polls, so stay tuned next week for that!

Today, I’ve got another reading recap for ya! I finished three books last week so it was a great reading week for me!

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (★★★★★)

One-sentence synopsis: At 16, the Vignes sisters (identical twins) ran away from their small, southern Black community to New Orleans, only to be divided when one sister discovers how easily she can pass as white and begins a life of secrecy and lies.

Oh, how I loved this book! It was so well-written and compelling and complex. The themes of race and identity and family were so beautifully interwoven throughout the plot, and the characters were so wonderfully developed. There were characters I hated and characters I loved, and following these two sisters and their daughters throughout their lives was so fascinating, especially considering how differently the sisters’ lives turned out. I’m really glad I buddy-read this one with Kim, as it is a book that is prime for discussion and we had lots of great chats about the themes of the novel and the decisions the characters made throughout the book. This book will most definitely make my top-10 at the end of the year!

You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Jasmine and Ashton, two soap opera stars, are paired together to lead in a bilingual TV series for a leading streaming service.

This romance was fun from beginning to end! I loved everything about Jasmine and Ashton and their budding romance, and I especially loved the setting of a TV show. The TV show was fully produced, directed, and acted by Latinx people, and there was a lot of emphasis on doing this right for the Latinx community. If they produced a successful Latinx TV show, that would pave the way for more Latinx actors, producers, screenwriters, and directors to get their due. It was a beautiful ode to the Latinx community and Puerto Rico especially, and I truly loved everything about this book. Go read it!

The Chain by Adrian McKinty (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: After Rachel’s daughter is kidnapped, she learns there’s only one way to get her back: Kidnap another child and hold him or her for ransom.

This book is craaaaazy! What an insane idea for a kidnapping scheme: putting the parents whose child was kidnapped at the center of the scheme. After your child is kidnapped, the kidnapper calls you to tell you the details: You must pay a ransom and then find a child to kidnap, repeating the process with that child’s parents. And thus, a chain is born. This book was super creepy (I was listening to the audiobook and I definitely couldn’t listen to it at night!) and thoroughly compelling, even though the plot felt uneven at times. I think that listening to the book rather than reading it helped my reading experience because I think the writing could veer on the pretentious side at times. It worked for an audiobook, as it allowed the narrator to lean into the theatrics, but might come across as silly in print. For me, it was a solid thriller and one I would recommend!

I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman – abandoned

Oof. Abbi Waxman is one of my tried-and-true authors, but her latest novel did not work for me. I abandoned it on page 66 (22%) because I couldn’t handle the contentious relationship between the mother and daughter. I feel like Waxman was going for a comedic effect, but it left me more frustrated than amused. She also used the plot device of characters misunderstanding each other’s intent again and again and again, and that’s one of my least-liked plot devices, so meh. Not my cup of tea, sadly!

What I’m Reading This Week

I’m currently reading The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord, a YA novel about a 16-year-old girl who is dealing with the aftereffects of her boyfriend’s death a year ago, as well as dipping in and out of Applied Electromagnetism by Susannah Nix, which is a romance novel (Nix writes romances about women in STEM, hence the titles that sound straight from a science class, ha).

And I’m still slowly reading A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris. I only read about 40 pages last week, but that’s okay! That’s what the slow-and-steady process is all about. 🙂

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (8.10.20)

Happy Monday! I have a looooong list of books today since this recap comprises two weeks worth of reading. And I got a lot of reading down over the past two weeks—seven books, to be exact! Let’s dive into these reviews:

No Place to Run by Maya Banks (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: When Sophie, the woman Sam had a fling with on assignment in Mexico, shows up at his home, injured and pregnant, Sam will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

I liked this book, which is the second novel in Banks’s KGI series, but it felt oddly similar to the first book in which the hero has to take care of the heroine, who is in fragile condition. Really hoping the author gives us something different in the next book! There were parts I really liked about the novel—it was super suspenseful and I loved the family dynamics at play—and there were parts I super despised, mainly how the women in the book were treated. (As one reviewer pointed out, there was no real character development for Sophie. What did she do for work? What were her hobbies? Who were her friends?) Sophie felt one-dimensional and just a side character when she was actually the heroine! Just… meh.

Woman 99 by Greer Macallister (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: When Charlotte’s sister, Phoebe, is placed in a mental health facility against her will, Charlotte gets herself committed to save her sister.

What I enjoyed most about this novel was the historical aspect, as it took place in the late 1800s and discussed the type of women who would be committed to these mental facilities. Some of the women were in desperate need of a calm facility that valued order and isolated them from the outside world. Others, though, were only there because they had become a nuisance to their family by not marrying or desiring other women or wanting to seek higher education. It was horrifying to recognize what could sentence a woman to a place like this. What I didn’t love so much about this book was Charlotte. She was so naive and it drove me crazy at times. (I think that was the point, though, as she grew up very sheltered.) I also found the ending to be a bit of a letdown. Everything wrapped up in this neat little bow and something about that didn’t sit right with me. It left me wanting more.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: High school senior, Elwood, is sentenced to a juvenile reformatory called The Nickel School due to an innocent mistake.

I had high expectations for this book and I don’t know if they were fully met. That’s not to say that this book wasn’t beautifully written, because it was. Colson Whitehead uses sparse language to convey complex, horrifying themes and this book is phenomenally well-written. The incidents of brutality were vivid, but so were the hope and the tenacious spirit of Elwood and the other boys. From time to time, though, I felt myself a little bored with the plot and not sure where things were going. The book almost felt like a collection of vignettes rather than one cohesive story. Even still, this novel is one I will definitely be recommending because it’s worth the read.

Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams (★★☆☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: When Liv gets fired from her job after confronting her boss about the sexual harassment she witnessed, she vows to seek vengeance, but that means relying on the one man she absolutely despises, Braden Mack.

Ugh, this book. I had such high hopes and I was so disappointed. This book attempts a #MeToo plot involving a serial sexual abuser, but I do not feel as if the author treated the subject matter with sensitivity. Instead, there’s victim blaming, boundary-pushing, and, well, harassing sexual assault victims in appalling ways. It was hard to root for any of the characters with the way they treated the sexual assault survivors in this story, and I just really wanted so much more from this book, the characters, and the writing.

Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Lane, who has just been diagnosed with tuberculosis, is sent to Latham House, a sanatorium for other young TB patients.

This novel was so interesting! I learned a lot about tuberculosis and what it means to be diagnosed with this chronic illness. It felt fairly timely, too, with our current pandemic as TB patients are highly contagious and those without the condition have to wear masks when they’re around those with TB. The novel switches back and forth between two perspectives: Lane, who has just been diagnosed and is a new patient at Latham House, and Sadie, who has been at the sanatorium for over a year. It takes place in present day and Latham House operates like a boarding school for the sick. The kids go to classes, eat in a cafeteria, have regular doctor’s appointments, and require regimented downtime. The novel is heartbreaking at times (because these kids are sick with a potentially fatal disease) but also beautiful and heartfelt and fun. I really enjoyed it!

The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: A collection of essays discussing the #MeToo movement, the misogyny inherent in so many pop culture phenomenons, abortion, politics, Ted Bundy, and so much more.

I enjoy Lindy West’s voice so much. She doesn’t hold back and man, is it refreshing. These essays are truly timely (so timely, I wonder if some of the references are going to feel super outdated even a few years down the road) and filled with humor, heart, and disdain for white males. I laughed my way through the chapter about wellness culture, got emotional when she discussed abortion rights, and felt uncomfortable as she schooled me on the misogyny inherent in Adam Sandler films (and most comedy films of the 90s/early aughts). There was so much good in this book, however, I struggled with the fact that I felt like West didn’t bring anything new to the table, especially when discussing politics and the #MeToo movement. These are the same points anyone entrenched in liberal politics has been hearing and reading about for many years. It read like an echo chamber of my own thoughts. It left me wanting more.

Deep Cover by Scarlett Cole (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Sparks fly when FBI agent Amy and government contractor Cabe are partnered together for an undercover assignment, but is Cabe ready to move on after the death of his fiancee two years ago?

I loved this romantic suspense novel, and after a string of “just okay” romances, I was grateful to finally find one that I could truly sink into and enjoy. I loved the dynamic between Cabe and Amy; their chemistry was palpable! Cabe spends the majority of the beginning of the novel comparing Amy to his late fiancee, and at a certain point, it started to grate on me. But, gradually, as Cabe gets to know Amy better and they begin to fall in love, he stops spending so much time comparing the two women and starts to simply enjoy Amy as she is. It was really beautiful. As for the undercover assignment, which involved taking down a money laundering and sex trafficking ring at a successful casino, it was so well done! I loved the look into casino culture and being a dealer, and the ending had me quickly turning pages to make sure everything would turn out okay in the end! All in all, a great romance that came into my life at just the right time.

What I’m Reading This Week

  • A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris (print) – This is my “slow but steady” read. I have a friend’s copy from high school, which is so special! I’m spending 10 minutes every day with this novel (and not stressing if I don’t get around to sitting down with the book on a particular day). I’ve read 75 pages so far and I’m enjoying it!
  • The Chain by Adam McKinty (audiobook) – I’ve been dipping in and out of this thriller on audio and it’s so good so far! I’m only 3 hours in (it’s a 10-hour audiobook), though, so fingers crossed it lives up to my expectations.
  • The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (print) – Eeks, I’m so excited to be reading Brit Bennett’s latest. The Mothers was in my top five the year I read it, and The Vanishing Half is shaping up to be just as excellent. And I’m buddy-reading it with Kim, which is so much fun!
  • You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria – New Alexis Daria, woohoo! It’s been a few years since we’ve had a new romance from her, and I’m excited to dig into this one that takes place on the set of a romantic comedy. Fun!

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (7.27.20)

Happy Monday and happy last week of July! Whaaat. I’m hoping August flies by as fast as July did, because that means I’m just that much closer to my MOVE. (It’s all I can think about, honestly.) Last week, I made my first trip to the library since March! I’ll talk about the experience in my next COVID-19 update post, but I’m just so happy to have a whole stack of library books to get through. I didn’t realize how much I missed the crinkle of a hardcover library book until I opened my first one this week, and ahhh, such a delight.

Last week, I finished two books and abandoned one. Let’s discuss!

Down with Love by Kate Meader (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Divorce attorney Max and wedding planner Charlie are thrown together when Charlie is hired to plan Max’s brother’s wedding.

What a fun, flirty romance! I really enjoyed my time with this one. I think what I loved most was how distinct Max and Charlie’s voices were. Typically in a romance, there’s not a huge difference in voice between the male and female leads (aside from the male saying “fuck” a lot, which is always a little eye-roll-y). But with this novel, I could truly feel the difference and I really liked it, even though Max was a huge douchebag at the beginning. But he started to endear himself to me as the story progressed and especially when he began to lose his heart to Charlie. Their love story gave me all of the heart-eyes and I couldn’t get enough of this book! Definitely one to add to your list if you’re looking for a fun romance (but be warned: it’s steamy!).

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: A story set in the Depression era about a group of women known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky who deliver books to rural communities.

Gosh, I loved this book so very much! It was compelling right from the start, but then it hit a point about 150 pages in where I just couldn’t put it down for anything! I found all of the women to be such well-rounded, complex characters and the setting to be so vivid that I felt as if I was riding with these women or inside their library. I loved the emphasis on literature and reading, and how necessary it is for the betterment of society. All in all, a lovely, compelling story that reminded me what a privilege it is to be a reader.

Circe by Madeline Miller (abandoned)

Well, I tried but this book just really wasn’t for me. It was just a little too… weird. I prefer my stories firmly rooted in reality and Greek mythology is certainly not that. I can certainly see why so many people rave about this novel and I really loved Miller’s writing style (I read 125 pages before abandoning it because the writing was so compelling!), but it just wasn’t the right book for my taste. Live and learn!

What I’m Reading This Week

I’m halfway through Woman 99 by Greer Macallister, a historical thriller following a girl who enters a mental health facility hoping to free her sister who was just committed. It’s fantastic so far and considering it draws on what these asylums for women were like back in the late 1800s, also really troubling. I’m also dipping in and out of No Place to Run by Maya Banks, a fast-paced romantic suspense that is keeping me on my toes. Once I finish Woman 99, I’m going to start The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, which I hear is a really difficult but necessary read. I’ll probably take my time with it, so it’s a good thing that my next romance coming up is Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams—a good palate cleanser!

What are you reading?