What I’m Reading (5.15.24)

Knockout by Sarah MacLean (★★★★☆)

E-Book • Library • Historical Romance • 2023

Short synopsis: Lady Imogen Loveless has a penchant for science experiments and explosives… making her quite peculiar among the London set. Detective Inspector Thomas Peck is a buttoned-up man of the law who constantly finds Imogen at his crime scenes. When Imogen’s brother enlists Tommy’s help to keep an eye on Imogen and make sure she doesn’t get into any more trouble, he doesn’t realize he’s being drawn into her web of chaos.

I have been waiting for Imogen’s book (Knockout is the third book in MacLean’s Hell’s Belles series), and it did not disappoint! Imogen is known for her carefully placed explosives, and getting into her scientist mind (during a time when women weren’t allowed to be engaged in such thinking!) was fascinating. I also really loved the dichotomy between chaotic Imogen and buttoned-up Tommy. A true opposites-attract moment! This is an open-door romance but it isn’t too steamy, and I just love the way MacLean creates characters who are so lively and easy to root for. It was a wonderfully sweet love story with some badass women at the center.

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Library • YA • 2022

Short synopsis: Salahudin and Noor are more than best friends—they’re family. Until The Fight threatens to ruin everything they hold dear. Now, as Sal tries to run his family’s motel on his own and Noor tries to find her escape hatch from her wrathful uncle, their friendship is put to the ultimate test.

I loved this book and I also hated this book for the way it made me feel. This book is not an easy read and there are trigger warnings on trigger warnings, so it’s probably not the best book for this highly sensitive reader, but with a 4.5 star rating on Goodreads, I had to find out why everyone loved it so much. Noor and Sal were such amazing characters. They felt full and real and authentic, and I was rooting for them the whole time. I could only listen to an hour of the audiobook per day because I was so distraught by what was happening to them that I just wanted them to have a happy ending. This is not an easy book to read, but it was well worth my time and I’m glad I gave it a chance. (But whew, I am ready for something much more lighthearted next!)

Victim by Andrew Boryga (★★★★☆)

Print • Library • Contemporary Fiction • 2024

Short synopsis: Javier Perez is a hustler from a family of hustlers. As a college student, Javi embellishes his life story until there’s not even a kernel of truth left. Soon after graduating, a viral essay transforms Javi from a writer on the rise to a journalist at a legendary magazine where the editors applaud his “unique perspective.” But when those who know him best find out the game he’s playing, will it all come crumbling down on him?

What a wild ride! There were times when I just felt such a sweet adoration for Javi and times when I wanted to knock him upside the head because, what are you thinking, my dude?! This book is a satire, a look at the world of trauma porn, especially as it relates to people of color and the stories that can go viral. Javi knows what sells: trauma, sob stories, police brutality. So what if it isn’t fully his story? What are a few little lies in the grand scheme of things? This is also a book about power and how intoxicating it can be to be at the top, to get the likes and the retweets and the army of defenders. I wish I could have gotten a bit more of a nuanced look at Javi as a character—it felt like there was a wall between him and us, and I think I would have enjoyed the story a lot more if I felt a deeper connection to him. However, this was Boryga’s debut and what an impressive one it was. I’m excited to see what he does next.

What are you reading?