Simone and Her Books

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  • Malice by Heather Walter // Book Review

    Malice by Heather Walter // Book Review

    I’ve been finding a lot of fairy tale retellings lately. Perhaps it’s just a trend in the reading world or maybe it’s just entirely coincidence. But either way, I’m here for all of it.

    Here’s More About Malice

    Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who, in an act of vengeance, cursed a line of princesses to die. A curse that could only be broken by true love’s kiss. You’ve heard this before, haven’t you? The handsome prince. The happily ever after. Utter nonsense.

    Let me tell you, no one in Briar actually cares about what happens to its princesses. Not the way they care about their jewels and elaborate parties and charm-granting elixirs. I thought I didn’t care, either.

    Until I met her. Princess Aurora.

    The last heir to Briar’s throne. Kind. Gracious. The future queen her realm needs. One who isn’t bothered that I am Alyce, the Dark Grace, abhorred and feared for the mysterious dark magic that runs in my veins. Humiliated and shamed by the same nobles who pay me to bottle hexes and then brand me a monster. Aurora says I should be proud of my gifts. That she . . . cares for me. Even though a power like mine was responsible for her curse. But with less than a year until that curse will kill her, any future I might see with Aurora is swiftly disintegrating–and she can’t stand to kiss yet another insipid prince. I want to help her. If my power began her curse, perhaps it’s what can lift it. Perhaps together we could forge a new world. Nonsense again. Because we all know how this story ends, don’t we? Aurora is the beautiful princess. And I– I am the villain.

    My Thoughts

    This was a slow-burning retelling that I really enjoyed. I know it isn’t perfect and there could have been more enhancing the world building and some of the events that take place. But as a debut novel, the first in a duology, and something that features a lot of humanizing features, you have to give it props.

    I think the biggest draw for me in this story is the fact that you don’t need to know the original story. That’s because the story gives you some of the characters and world from the book, but the rest is completely created by the author. I’m a huge fan of authors who don’t stay true to the original story. We have that story already and hearing someone put their own twist on it makes it more exciting for me.

    The beginning of the book really dumps a lot of information on you. I would say the story doesn’t actually get going until you’re 100 pages in. When Aurora finally shows up, that’s when things get interesting. But I was interested in the info dumps because it was as much world building as you get in the story. I liked the idea of Graces; different magical beings that can do everything from enhance your beauty to heal your wounds. The only caveat is that Graces lose their power over time; they use their distinct golden blood to create their elixirs and charms. Alyce is a Vila; it’s sort of the same as a Grace except she can’t cast spells for good. So she’s relegated to potions that make people ugly and curses that help people do malicious things. I loved that the author took the old tale and turned it into this complex magic system where the three fairies from the book represent one group and Maleficent represents the other. However, don’t expect any appearances from those folks.

    I really loved how Alyce’s experiences in this world reflect on the real world. Her “otherness” causes her to be cast out from the rest of society. People constantly see her as a threat because of her genes and ethnicity. She’s a Vila; the worst of the worst. However, that’s not even close to the type of person Alyce truly is. It’s just another set of stereotypes created by people to keep her being the other. If that isn’t a reflection of reality, I don’t know what is.

    I also really like the political/royal intrigue happening in the book. There was some building up to the big reveal and what’s happening in the kingdom, but I also felt like this could have been enhanced. However, this part was one of the main reasons I kept reading despite it coming so late in the book.

    But the relationship between Aurora and Alyce was really sweet and somewhat romantic. The only thing I wish the author did more was add more context to their relationship. They went pretty quickly from friends to lovers and much of what I had to do was suspend disbelief that they were so quick to fall for each other. But I did find it clever that Aurora has to kiss every man in the kingdom to break her curse only to find it was Alyce all along.

    Overall, a great start to a new duology and a debut author. I’m happy to read the next book and anything else Heather Walter writes in the future.

    Thanks Del Rey for the gifted copy of this book. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders // Book Review

    Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders // Book Review

    I had a lot of high hopes for this one especially since I really loved The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders. It’s her first foray into sci-fi and while it definitely carried those themes, it hit the mark for me.

    Here’s More About Victories Greater Than Death

    Outsmart Your Enemies. Outrun the Galaxy.

    Tina never worries about being ‘ordinary’—she doesn’t have to, since she’s known practically forever that she’s not just Tina Mains, average teenager and beloved daughter. She’s also the keeper of an interplanetary rescue beacon, and one day soon, it’s going to activate, and then her dreams of saving all the worlds and adventuring among the stars will finally be possible. Tina’s legacy, after all, is intergalactic—she is the hidden clone of a famed alien hero, left on Earth disguised as a human to give the universe another chance to defeat a terrible evil.

    But when the beacon activates, it turns out that Tina’s destiny isn’t quite what she expected. Things are far more dangerous than she ever assumed. Luckily, Tina is surrounded by a crew she can trust, and her best friend Rachel, and she is still determined to save all the worlds. But first she’ll have to save herself.

    Buckle up your seatbelt for this thrilling sci-fi adventure set against an intergalactic war from international bestselling author Charlie Jane Anders.

    My Thoughts

    From the premise alone, I thought this was going to be a YA version of something Becky Chambers would write. And in many ways it was. It had the rag tag team of aliens from across the galaxy. They each had their own personality, they introduced themselves with their preferred pronouns. And many of the explanations Tina and Rachel ask for are met with a direct response that gives you more context to how the world works.

    The added bonus of this book that Becky Chambers doesn’t have is the addition of six human kids from Earth. I really liked this component especially since each of the kids has their own personality, their own backstory, and reasons for doing what they do. From building robots that make music with their girlfriend or running away from people who don’t understand you, this book runs the gamut. I think many people who read this book will feel the inclusion right away and happy to see themselves written into a story. I’m going to say it because this is exactly how I felt while I read it; this was The Goonies in Space.

    It definitely feels like a Charlie Jane Anders books where the emphasis is more on the characters and their development. Much of the story centers the six kids and their lives which was great, but then the other characters (who were all aliens) were kind of left by the wayside. I also wanted to get to know them or at least hear some secrets from the universe.

    There was also this bigger theme of otherness as well. One of the main goals of the villain was to destroy the life that doesn’t look like humans. Aliens from across the galaxy that have two legs and two arms were saved by the villain, but anyone else was considered fodder for murder. I love that Tina and the rest of the Goonies came out to prove them wrong and show that despite what you look like (whether it’s three arms and three heads or you’re a blob-person), there’s always something good to find in them.

    And then there’s this epic villain who reminded me so much of Thanos from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His power, his strength, and his reasoning were all parts of him you should fear. However, his motivation for all of this outside of wanting to endorse the anti-humanoid agenda felt lost.

    I think my biggest issue with this book is that a lot of context is missing for the sake of the adventures. There was a lot of action, but not enough time to explain what was going on or what the bigger plot was going to be. I get that this is a YA story, but not all YA stories need to move at lightning speed. I wanted more context especially when it came to Marrant and Tina’s relationship, their motivations, and ultimately what they were trying to accomplish.

    Overall, this has been a fun one and will move quickly. I loved the humanizing aspects, the found family, and even the romance that happens in the story, but I think in the end, I wanted so much more from a space epic.

    Thanks to Tor Teen for gifting me a copy of this book. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • All Systems Red by Martha Wells // Book Review

    All Systems Red by Martha Wells // Book Review

    Do you ever judge a book by its cover? I will admit, I’m a culprit of this and I most definitely judged Martha Wells’ All Systems Red a little too hastily. It had a giant robot guy on the cover and didn’t really convey the mood of the story. But once you get into it, you realize that the mood is a bit lighter than you imagined.

    Here’s More About All Systems Red

    A murderous android discovers itself in All Systems Red, a tense science fiction adventure by Martha Wells that interrogates the roots of consciousness through Artificial Intelligence.

    “As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure.”

    In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety.

    But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.

    On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid — a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is.

    But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it’s up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

    My Thoughts

    “It calls itself ‘Murderbot.’”
    “That was private.”

    I think this was the moment I fell in love with Murderbot and Martha Wells. Seriously, I thought this book would be so serious, but it turned out to be quite different than I thought. Following around an android who is obsessed with serial shows and finding its own personality than protecting the people its supposed to protect is a funny premise. You have to give it that.

    For the first bit of the story, you get an idea of what kind of work Murderbot did and how it worked amongst other humans. For the most part, it felt like the humans wanted to be friends with the bot, but also realized that it’s a security android there to protect them. Luckily for them, the android is smart enough to know when it’s being messed around with and the kind of damage it can do if placed in the wrong hands.

    I liked how compact this story was. Since it’s a novella, there’s not a lot of room to discuss the intricate components of the world, but within one story on one mission, you get all that you need to know about Murderbot and its programming. In the end, I really like stories like this where it’s one story and then it moves on. I liked this introduction to this character and the way its done really shows the relationship between humans and androids and how precarious it is. I mean, one is a living breathing entity while the other is a robot.

    I also liked how the story was half telling you about the world and half showing you a story. The story itself felt really small, but all the conspiracy theories and figuring out what was happening to the crew lent to most of the book. But I’m glad they did it so the second book can be pure story about a robot named Murderbot venturing out on his own.

    I also loved that it’s through Murderbot’s POV so there are parts you miss because he’s offline and you know deeply into his inner thoughts. And because he’s a robot and has the intelligence of the world, he’s able to deduce situations and make guesses that work and keep the crew safe. It was sad what happened to it and what eventually happens at the end, but you’re not sad for long. It’s most definitely a hopeful introduction to a character I most definitely want to follow.

    Overall, great start to a great series and I can’t believe it took me this long to get into it. Now, if only I can find space on my TBR to read the rest.

  • I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman // Book Review

    I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman // Book Review

    I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I really liked Nina Hill and expected a similar story for this one, but a mother/daughter growth story worked and really made me happy to read.

    Here’s more about I Was Told It Would Get Easier

    Squashed among a bus full of strangers, mother-daughter duo Jessica and Emily Burnstein watch their carefully mapped-out college tour devolve into a series of off-roading misadventures, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.

    Jessica and Emily Burnstein have very different ideas of how this college tour should go.

    For Emily, it’s a preview of freedom, exploring the possibility of her new and more exciting future. Not that she’s sure she even wants to go to college, but let’s ignore that for now. And maybe the other kids on the tour will like her more than the ones at school. . . . They have to, right?

    For Jessica, it’s a chance to bond with the daughter she seems to have lost. They used to be so close, but then Goldfish crackers and Play-Doh were no longer enough of a draw. She isn’t even sure if Emily likes her anymore. To be honest, Jessica isn’t sure she likes herself.

    Together with a dozen strangers–and two familiar enemies–Jessica and Emily travel the East Coast, meeting up with family and old friends along the way. Surprises and secrets threaten their relationship and, in the end, change it forever.

    My Thoughts

    Jessica is an overworked single mother who’s been balancing her daughter and her job but letting her job win. Emily reminded me a lot of myself; an in-between person who isn’t fully sure what she’s capable of doing but also wants the space to figure it out for herself. Jessica is involved in Emily’s life despite Emily’s want for her to move away from that space and the tension between them and their relationship is palatable from the beginning.

    As they journey to different colleges on this weekend tour of the East Coast, not only do Jessica and Emily find out more about themselves, but they find out more about each other. It’s obvious that Jessica and Emily didn’t have that Lorelai/Rory bond. In fact, it seemed on the verge of blowing up with every snarky comment or eye roll.

    But I loved the gradual growth between them. Frankly, I was expecting there to be some bigger adventure that would take Jessica and Emily’s experiences to get out of, but it didn’t turn out this way. It was a breezy and funny coming-of-age story (and I’m talking about coming-of-age for everyone) and Jessica and Emily do end up with a better relationship at the end.

    I was a little annoyed that Jessica and Emily had this rapport that seemed on the brink of tearing, but then you would read their inner thoughts (because the book is written in dual POV) and want for them to just say what they’re feeling. However, having been a teenager with a tough relationship with their mom, I understood why there were less said than felt.

    I wasn’t a fan of all the stuff happening around Jessica and Emily. For example, a school admissions scandal. I’m assuming Abbi Waxman is bringing this up because of the scandals that happened in 2019 with a very prominent school in LA and Abbi being from LA probably wanted to talk about it. The way it was set up felt a bit abrupt and pulled from nowhere. I wished there was a bit more context at the beginning of the novel (and perhaps something Emily is hiding more from Jessica) to bring that scandal into full view by the end. However, there was some interesting things that came out of that part of the book, which I really liked especially the parts discussing how important college is to kids and their parents.

    Overall, this was a fun read and reading it on audiobook with the two POVs was excellent. There was a lot of emotions that the narrator put into her characters and it showed when you listen, so highly recommend it if you can get a copy of the audiobook somewhere.

    I received a copy of this book from Berkley. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q Sutanto

    Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q Sutanto

    I’m so glad I decided to pick this one up because it was a mix of a J Lo rom-com, Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians opulence, and Weekend at Bernie’s. It definitely left me with a smile on my face and also missing my family a little bit.

    Here’s more about Dial A for Aunties

    A hilariously quirky novel that is equal parts murder mystery, rom-com, and a celebration of mothers and daughters as well as a deep dive into Chinese-Indonesian culture, by debut author Jesse Q. Sutanto.

    1 (accidental) murder
    2 thousand wedding guests
    3 (maybe) cursed generations
    4 meddling Asian aunties to the rescue!

    When Meddelin Chan ends up accidentally killing her blind date, her meddlesome mother calls for her even more meddlesome aunties to help get rid of the body. Unfortunately, a dead body proves to be a lot more challenging to dispose of than one might anticipate, especially when it is accidentally shipped in a cake cooler to the over-the-top billionaire wedding Meddy, her Ma, and aunties are working, at an island resort on the California coastline. It’s the biggest job yet for their family wedding business—“Don’t leave your big day to chance, leave it to the Chans!”—and nothing, not even an unsavory corpse, will get in the way of her auntie’s perfect buttercream cake flowers.

    But things go from inconvenient to downright torturous when Meddy’s great college love—and biggest heartbreak—makes a surprise appearance amid the wedding chaos. Is it possible to escape murder charges, charm her ex back into her life, and pull off a stunning wedding all in one weekend?

    My Thoughts

    Perhaps it’s my personality and why I like reading darker novels that I really fell in love with this one. Like I said, this book was the opulence of Crazy Rich Asians crossed with a very witty rom-com (I like JLo, but insert your favorites here), and Weekend at Bernie’s. If you’re not aware of Weekend at Bernie’s, it’s basically a movie where this billionaire is murdered and these two subordinates from his company try and cover it up. That’s pretty similar to what happened here with a few major changes.

    The story started off a bit slow, but only because you’re establishing what the book is going to be about. The characters are especially important in this story, so they needed an introduction and context before they get introduced. There’s a little bit of time jumping as Meddie reflects back on her relationship with Nathan. For the most of it, I thought this would be a second-chance romance, but the scenarios Meddie and her family get caught in took more precedent than the romantic elements of the story.

    This book made me laugh so much. It wasn’t just Meddie and her family trying to hide a dead body in a super fancy hotel on the weekend of a very important wedding, but it’s also the rapport between Meddie and her aunties. A lot of it was relatable with my own relatives who try and tell you how they know better than you. But I think what I absolutely loved is that their relationship is stronger than anything else. Meddie and these four women that made up her mother and aunts were probably the strongest group of women I’ve ever seen. They took the situation they found themselves in and made it work for them despite knowing they were committing some pretty big felonies.

    And the shenanigans were supremely funny. Everything from carting the dead body around the hotel to the stolen jewelry and gifts to even the surprising ending twist were all the perfect concoction for this story to run and entertain the pants off of you. Like a rom-com, the scenarios kept getting bigger and bigger. It almost felt like there wasn’t a moment to breathe from the moment they arrived at the wedding site to the final vows being uttered from the bride.

    I’ll admit, you do have to suspend disbelief a lot in this story. I was so surprised that Meddie’s first instinct wasn’t to call someone about the accident. And then the shenanigans at the hotel especially around her ex, Nathan, were hard to believe would really happen. However, it didn’t matter to me. I know the book is flawed, but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. I think it’s because I needed a good laugh and this book was delivering it despite not being 100% believable.

    I think the one thing I wished it did more of was discuss Nathan and Meddie’s relationship. It felt like the entire time, Nathan was trying to get a hold of Meddie so they can discuss the future of their life together. I wished that was brought up more and discussed on the page. Perhaps a hilarious scene of them at dinner with her aunties struggling to hold up the body in the background? LOL.

    I will say what I appreciated the most about this story is the inclusion of Indonesian-Chinese culture. I personally don’t know much about this world, so I appreciate the author to include it and bring their own culture to the story. It was a lovely touch.

    Overall, it was such a fun read that will leave you laughing. It’s great for days when you’re not feeling so great and want to read someone else’s drama. Also, the dead body isn’t too gruesome, so you won’t spend too much time with the squeamish.

    Thanks to Berkley for a gifted copy of this book. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • Spotlight // I’m Waiting For You and Other Stories by Kim Bo-Young

    Spotlight // I’m Waiting For You and Other Stories by Kim Bo-Young

    Are you reading translated fiction this year?

    I’m always on the lookout for some great reads especially from folks around the world. When I heard about this translated sci-fi collection from a South Korean author, I knew I had to pick it up and read it. I don’t plan to read it until next month, but I’m so excited to get into it and enjoy these incredible stories from the other side of the world.

    Two worlds, four stories, infinite possibilities 
    One of South Korea’s most treasured writers explores the driving forces of humanity—love, hope, creation, destruction, and the very meaning of existence—in two pairs of thematically interconnected stories.

    In “I’m Waiting for You” and “On My Way,” an engaged couple coordinate their separate missions to distant corners of the galaxy to ensure—through relativity—they can arrive back on Earth simultaneously to make it down the aisle. But small incidents wreak havoc on space and time, driving their wedding date further away. As centuries on Earth pass and the land and climate change, one thing is constant: the desire of the lovers to be together. In two separate yet linked stories, Kim Bo-Young cleverly demonstrate the idea love that is timeless and hope springs eternal, despite seemingly insurmountable challenges and the deepest despair.

    In “The Prophet of Corruption” and “That One Life,” humanity is viewed through the eyes of its creators: godlike beings for which everything on Earth—from the richest woman to a speck of dirt—is an extension of their will. When one of the creations questions the righteousness of this arrangement, it is deemed a perversion—a disease—that must be excised and cured. Yet the Prophet Naban, whose “child” is rebelling, isn’t sure the rebellion is bad. What if that which is considered criminal is instead the natural order—and those who condemn it corrupt? Exploring the dichotomy between the philosophical and the corporeal, Kim ponders the fate of free-will, as she considers the most basic of questions: who am I?

  • The Conductors by Nicole Glover // Book Review

    The Conductors by Nicole Glover // Book Review

    I was really excited to read this one especially since historical fantasy is a sub-genre I’m really into lately. But what I read felt more like a historical fiction with a touch of fantasy. It may be perfect for those who love alternate history or a historical fiction that takes place during the late 19th century.

    Here’s More about The Conductors

    A compelling debut by a new voice in fantasy fiction, The Conductors features the magic and mystery of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files written with the sensibility and historical setting of Octavia Butler’s Kindred: Introducing Hetty Rhodes, a magic-user and former conductor on the Underground Railroad who now solves crimes in post–Civil War Philadelphia.

    As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Hetty Rhodes helped usher dozens of people north with her wits and magic. Now that the Civil War is over, Hetty and her husband Benjy have settled in Philadelphia, solving murders and mysteries that the white authorities won’t touch. When they find one of their friends slain in an alley, Hetty and Benjy bury the body and set off to find answers. But the secrets and intricate lies of the elites of Black Philadelphia only serve to dredge up more questions. To solve this mystery, they will have to face ugly truths all around them, including the ones about each other.

    In this vibrant and original novel, Nicole Glover joins a roster of contemporary writers within fantasy, such as Victor LaValle and Zen Cho, who use speculative fiction to delve into important historical and cultural threads.

    My Thoughts

    I liked this one! While it wasn’t entirely what I’m usually reading (more on the fantasy side than the historical side), I still appreciated the story and the world Nicole Glover’s built for Hetty and Benjy. This was such an interesting world and while I imagined it being more like a crime noire story, I’m still happy with the results.

    I really loved the magic. While it could have done with a bit more explanation on how they all work (what’s the difference between sigil magic and sorcery?), I loved how it’s used. I loved reading Hettie sitting and sewing constellations into the collars of her shirts and how she’s able to lift an entire bathtub with her things in it and move. The magic felt romantic especially when it’s using constellations. I loved seeing the different signs of the zodiac come to life and help Hettie and Benjy on their missions.

    I also liked the setting. I’ve read a few historical fiction stories that are set in this post Civil-War America, I liked how this one still continues to look back at the events prior to the war and how it affects the characters in the book. You can tell from the subtle nods to enslavement and the war that this is still fresh in the characters’ minds and how their decisions are sometimes based on the world they used to live in. But I also appreciated reading about how this young Philadelphian town is thriving with affluent Black Americans making a name for themselves after the war.

    Hettie was definitely my favorite character and while Benjy does have his moments, I loved following Hettie along. Perhaps it’s because most of the flashbacks are about Hettie and her life, but she’s also such a humble and strong character who isn’t as showy as some of the other characters. She’s a seamstress who doesn’t want to be bulldozed into working for little money. She’s a detective who can use magic, but she doesn’t use it for just anyone. Even though some characters bugged Hettie, she still kept her cool and composure and never showing her full hand before figuring out the situations.

    And for the other characters in the book, I don’t know how but I fell in love with them as well. Everyone from Penelope who seems just so kind and brews potions for Hettie to Alice, the passing Black elite looking for her sister. There were so many characters and each of them had such different and interesting personalities. I loved how developed they were and how they relate back to Hettie and Benjy.

    However, I wasn’t a fan of the mystery. I think it’s because it didn’t feel like the most important part of the book. I found it much more interesting to read about Hettie and her journey to find her sister, to help out the local townspeople, and contribute to society. But when it came to the mystery behind the murders, it almost felt like an afterthought. I was surprised by the big reveal at the end because there weren’t enough breadcrumbs or clues within the text to suggest otherwise. I think this is the first book in a really long time that I couldn’t figure out who did it before the reveal. You can definitely tell there’s something going on and there are hints throughout the story, but I also felt they were too few and far between. Every time it came back to the mystery component, I’d completely forgotten it was a part of the book.

    Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good historical fiction novel with a bit of magic and a bit of mystery. I wouldn’t hold out for figuring out the culprit before the end of the book because it may get in the way of your enjoyment of the story.

    Thanks to HMH Books for sending me a copy of this book. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez // Book Review

    Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez // Book Review

    Well, I didn’t think I would completely fall in love with this book like I did. I’ve been following Abby Jimenez since she released her debut novel, The Friend Zone, only a few short years ago. Now she’s on her third book and thriving with a story about young Vanessa who’s motto in life is to live in the present and Adrian, who’d much prefer a better plan.

    Here’s More about Life’s Too Short

    A brilliant and touching romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of The Friend Zone and The Happy Ever After Playlist.

    Vanessa lives life on her own terms — one day at a time, every day to its fullest. She isn’t willing to waste a moment or miss out on an experience when she has no idea whether she shares the same fatal genetic condition as her mother. Besides, she has way too much to do, traveling the globe and showing her millions of YouTube followers the joy in seizing every moment.

    But after her half-sister suddenly leaves Vanessa in custody of her infant daughter, she is housebound, on mommy duty for the foreseeable future, and feeling totally out of her element.

    The last person she expects to show up offering help is the unbelievably hot lawyer who lives next door, Adrian Copeland. After all, she barely knows him. But as they get closer, Vanessa realizes that her carefree ways and his need for a structured plan could never be compatible for the long term. Then again, she should know better than anyone that life’s too short to fear taking the biggest risk of all. . .

    My Thoughts

    I’ll be brief, I loved this book. There were so many dynamic components to it and it had a focus that went beyond just the relationship between Adrian and Vanessa. But don’t get me wrong, the romance is strong with this one.

    Vanessa is a young YouTube celebrity who’s focused her content and energy towards raising funds for ALS research and raising awareness about the disease. Why? Because the ALS gene runs in her family, has affected almost all the women in her life, and there’s a 50/50 chance she might get it as well. For the most part, Vanessa’s made choices in her life to accommodate for when that day comes: she travels the world, drinks the wine, and lives her life as spontaneously as she can. And she most definitely doesn’t date to avoid leaving someone behind that loved her. But things change when she finds her sister’s baby at her doorstep.

    I think one of the most interesting parts of this book was Vanessa’s life. It seemed like she’s contorted it to avoid leaving the Earth without too many things left loose. Her focus is raising money for ALS research while also worried she’ll start seeing early signs of the disease in herself. She’s worried about her father who’s developed hoarding tendencies over the years. She’s figuring out what to do about her sister’s baby that’s in her care while her sister goes on benders, and she’s encouraging her brother to step up and finally make some money. I always imagined the life of YouTubers as this glamorous fun time with tons of cool gifts and lots of money. But it really impressed me to see a character who’s dedicated to a cause, sharing her earnings with that cause, and always making more content to keep the momentum going.

    But at the same time, it’s almost like Vanessa’s living on a knife’s edge; always worried she won’t be able to take care of everything, always trying to live for the moment, and never sitting down and thinking about the inevitable. She calls thinking about the inevitable as “looking at the sun” and I can imagine that’s what it’s like; you’re focused so deeply at an unpredictable future that it blinds you from the present. I loved how spontaneous she is and I really wish I was friends with her in real life. She seems like the kind of friend who will drop everything and show up at your house with a pint of ice cream and funny movies when you’ve just been dumped. She’s the kind of person who you want to go to their birthday party and genuinely wish them a happy year.

    Adrian is a young, hot, and bearded criminal defense attorney who’s very much the workaholic. He gets dumped by his recent girlfriend (who was already married) and dealing with a past that’s colored the way he views the world. He lives next door to Vanessa and they only meet one very late night when the baby starts crying. It was kind of interesting how quickly Adrian helped Vanessa out. Honestly, if I heard a baby crying from next door and I went over there at 3AM to tell them to quiet down, I wouldn’t also be taking out the trash and helping them out. But I think what I loved most was watching Adrian fall in love with Grace, Vanessa’s baby.

    From that point on, you can imagine the rest. Friends to lovers with some steamy moments.

    I think what really impressed me about this novel is Abby Jimenez’s ability to make the emotions feel believable. There were moments reading both Adrian and Vanessa’s thought process and their fears of rejection and I thought to myself how familiar that felt. Even the scene when they finally get together was so believable to me with the rush of flurry of kisses after a very long and tense couple of months hanging out. The sad scenes make you sad and the happy ones keep a bright smile on your face. I felt like I was on such an emotional roller coaster while Vanessa and Adrian gets to know each other, shares their feelings, and figures out the rest.

    Overall, this was such a great book and really made me happy to read. Hope you all enjoy it too.

    Thanks to Forever Romance for the gifted copy of this book. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers // Book Review

    A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers // Book Review

    Recently, my mood has been wanting more science fiction and I’m not mad about it because I’ve got some lovely sci-fi lined up for myself that I think my mood will most definitely appreciate. I decided to dive into the second book in Becky Chambers’s Wayfarer series, and I have to admit that it really took me by surprise

    Here’s More About A Closed and Common Orbit

    Lovelace was once merely a ship’s artificial intelligence. When she wakes up in an new body, following a total system shut-down and reboot, she has no memory of what came before. As Lovelace learns to negotiate the universe and discover who she is, she makes friends with Pepper, an excitable engineer, who’s determined to help her learn and grow.

    Together, Pepper and Lovey will discover that no matter how vast space is, two people can fill it together.

    The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet introduced readers to the incredible world of Rosemary Harper, a young woman with a restless soul and secrets to keep. When she joined the crew of the Wayfarer, an intergalactic ship, she got more than she bargained for – and learned to live with, and love, her rag-tag collection of crewmates.

    A Closed and Common Orbit is the stand-alone sequel to Becky Chambers’ beloved debut novel The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and is perfect for fans of Firefly, Joss Whedon, Mass Effect and Star Wars.

    My Thoughts

    This was such a great read and really exactly what my brain needed. Not only was I getting lost in another space adventure, it was quite different than the first. I don’t mind that, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss the Wayfarer. However, I really liked the dual perspectives of Sidra and Jane and how their personal experiences drive them to be the people they are today. It’s one of those books with interconnections that you don’t see when you’re reading right away, but reveal themselves as you read along. And the reveal made me so happy.

    I thought this story was so human. Many of the situations she found herself in was kind of like watching a young child discover the world outside of their parents; understanding Sidra (aka Lovelace) and her interactions with other beings, understanding herself in a body outside the ship and having to live with the limitations of that body, her ability to make friends with Tak and their ability to be open and understanding despite Sidra being such an illegal product. It all read like a young person trying to find themselves and what their purpose is in the world. I also loved that Pepper and Blue were there to ensure her journey to maturity weren’t met with some serious consequences.

    Jane was the other character in this story and reading her origins was wonderful. It was a little jarring to read about a factory that produces clones of the same person to do the same menial tasks everyday, but when Jane 24 finally escapes and starts living in an derelict space shuttle, that’s when the story got really interesting. Similarly to Sidra, Jane’s being raised by an AI inside the shuttle and you can read her going through the same hormonally charged experiences most teenagers go through. But there was also a serious component to Jane’s story of survival and loneliness which at a young age (from 10-19 years old is what’s covered in this book), it made you hope that she finds someone that will protect her and be her friend outside of that AI.

    But what I loved is how this AI and Jane loved each other. They each have different programming. The AI is a computer who’s teaching a child who can’t read or do anything aside from fix things how to survive. Their relationship is uncanny and constantly being tested given that Jane is a human and Owl is only AI, but somehow they made it work.

    I feel like there’s a deep message of found families. You may be with strangers for a time, but then you find the people that love you for you and want to protect you because you’re precious to them. It was such a hopeful one too and how understanding and accepting people were with each other.

    Overall, a more human and character-based story than the ragtag team of the Wayfarer from Becky Chambers. However, I kept my mind and heart open and it rewarded me justly. This kind of writing reminds me of her more recent book To Be Taught, If Fortunate and how she’s able to use science fiction to bring hope to those who are looking for a bit more humanity in the real world.

  • 5 Funny Sci-Fi Novels That’ll Make You Fall in Love with Space

    Not all science fiction needs to be difficult to read. Sometimes sci-fi just means it’s a story that takes place in space rather than trying to bend the laws of physics to the author’s will. And sometimes all you need is a little laughter especially when it comes to the terrifying reality of space.

    Here’s a few books I think you’ll enjoy if you want to get into science fiction without all the drama of science fiction.

    Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell

    This book has been called a mix of Ancillary Justice meets Red, White, and Royal Blue. In my mind, that says funny and awkward rom-com moments that take place in space. I know it’s high on my reading list, so I’ll have to check it out.

    While the Iskat Empire has long dominated the system through treaties and political alliances, several planets, including Thea, have begun to chafe under Iskat’s rule. When tragedy befalls Imperial Prince Taam, his Thean widower, Jainan, is rushed into an arranged marriage with Taam’s cousin, the disreputable Kiem, in a bid to keep the rising hostilities between the two worlds under control.

    But when it comes to light that Prince Taam’s death may not have been an accident, and that Jainan himself may be a suspect, the unlikely pair must overcome their misgivings and learn to trust one another as they navigate the perils of the Iskat court, try to solve a murder, and prevent an interplanetary war… all while dealing with their growing feelings for each other.

    The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

    Probably one of my favorite authors for great sci-fi that will keep you happy is Becky Chambers. I couldn’t talk about this book any more than I already have, but I will. Becky Chambers is not only incredibly funny with her quirky ragtag space crew, but she’s also able to capture human life and connection across the stars.

    Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space-and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe-in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star.

    Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she’s never met anyone remotely like the ship’s diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain.

    Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy—exactly what Rosemary wants. It’s also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs—an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.

    All Systems Red by Martha Wells

    I recently picked up All Systems Red by Martha Wells expecting it to be one of those gritty sci-fi novels about how hard space life can be and I was pleasantly surprised. This will definitely make you an instant fan of Murderbot.

    In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety.

    But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.

    On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid—a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is.

    But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it’s up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

    Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdez

    If you need some quirky happenings in space that also include a royal prince intent on marrying the main character and bunch of space cats, then this might be the book for you.

    A hilarious, offbeat debut space opera that skewers everything from pop culture to video games and features an irresistible foul-mouthed captain and her motley crew, strange life forms, exciting twists, and a galaxy full of fun and adventure.

    Captain Eva Innocente and the crew of La Sirena Negra cruise the galaxy delivering small cargo for even smaller profits. When her sister Mari is kidnapped by The Fridge, a shadowy syndicate that holds people hostage in cryostasis, Eva must undergo a series of unpleasant, dangerous missions to pay the ransom.

    But Eva may lose her mind before she can raise the money. The ship’s hold is full of psychic cats, an amorous fish-faced emperor wants her dead after she rejects his advances, and her sweet engineer is giving her a pesky case of feelings. The worse things get, the more she lies, raising suspicions and testing her loyalty to her found family.

    To free her sister, Eva will risk everything: her crew, her ship, and the life she’s built on the ashes of her past misdeeds. But when the dominoes start to fall and she finds the real threat is greater than she imagined, she must decide whether to play it cool or burn it all down.

    Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

    It surprised me when Brandon Sanderson started writing YA sci-fi, but he was able to deliver a genuine story that feels like you’re watching Top Gun in space. Oh, and it’s humorous with even a little doomslug.

    Spensa’s world has been under attack for decades.

    Now pilots are the heroes of what’s left of the human race, and becoming one has always been Spensa’s dream. Since she was a little girl, she has imagined soaring skyward and proving her bravery. But her fate is intertwined with that of her father’s—a pilot himself who was killed years ago when he abruptly deserted his team, leaving Spensa the daughter of a coward, her chances of attending Flight School slim to none.

    No one will let Spensa forget what her father did, yet fate works in mysterious ways. Flight school might be a long shot, but she is determined to fly. And an accidental discovery in a long-forgotten cavern might just provide her with a way to claim the stars.