If you’re a fan of YA fantasy that has dual narratives, blood oaths, magic, a competition to win, and incorporation of real world folklore, then A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is for you. I’m such a sucker for books that have titles like this. You know that it’s going to be one of those YA fantasies that will suck you in. Using West African folklore, Roseanne A Brown creates a world filled with magical beings, difficult decision making, a little romance, and a very complex and welcome story line.
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books, reviews, and recommendations
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Today I’m sharing my TBR for August, but I’m doing this a little differently. I receive so many books within the month that it’s physically difficult for me to read them all. Knowing your threshold for reading is always helpful. If you can find the average number of books you can read in a month, then you can use that average to set reading goals for yourself. Of course, this is entirely up to you and you’re not in any way obligated to do this to have a great reading experience.
I, personally, like doing this because it keeps me on track with my reading and I discover new authors my mood wouldn’t normally pick up. It’s a great way to keep on reading, but I will admit it’s also a way to put your anxiety at risk of going up. I’ve gone many months thinking I can read 15 or more books and it turns out I can only read eight. Don’t push yourself to read more than you can manage, but also I do like to play around with my limit.
So what I’ve decided to do is pick the ten books I’ll read this month and do spotlights on the other books that might make it later in the month. This month is a little bit special because there were so many ones I received that I wanted to read. In order to accommodate that, I added one more. This blog post series will normally be ten, but today, I’m taking it up to eleven.
Here’s What I’m Reading
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
I’ve been anticipating this book for a very long time, so I’m so happy to finally read it! It’s the sequel to Gideon the Ninth and so far, it’s bonkers. I’m going to continue reading, but I will say that I’m nervous about how this book will turn out. So far, it’s just as wild as the first book, but there are definitely differences in the stories and that makes it confusing. However, I’m still holding out for a really great ending.
How Long Til Black Future Month? by NK Jemisin
I tried to start this book back in June, but because of my mental health I didn’t finish it. Also, I’m learning that reading a story a day is a commitment that I can’t hold. I need to sit down with one book and one book only. So I’ve scheduled some time to finish this incredible book of short stories from NK Jemisin. From the four or five stories I’ve already read, I absolutely love it. I think I’m a die hard fan of NK Jemisin for life.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Last month, I read The Extraordinaries, which was TJ Klune’s YA book that came out so close to when this book published. I tried starting this book last month on audio, but it wasn’t working for me. I think trying to world build and listen to it on audiobook just doesn’t work with my brain. So, I’m giving this an official reading timeline and plan on getting it read this month. I heard it’s a tearjerker, so I’m already ready with the tissues.
Vagabonds by Hao Jingfang translated by Ken Liu
I’m so excited to read Vagabonds this month! I’ll be reading with a friend online and I’m so glad. This will be my first piece of translated SFF. I’ve read translated fiction in the past, but I’ve never read SFF from another country before. I’m excited, but nervous with what to expect. I trust Ken Liu’s writing and taste, so I know the book will be really good. I just hope it’s not too over my head, if that makes sense.
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
I’m continuing my read of Sabaa Tahir’s series this month with the second book. If you couldn’t tell from last month, I really loved the first book and hope that the second and third books are just as good as that first one. I can’t wait until I’m all caught up and ready to read the final book coming out later this year!
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
Witches aren’t really my thing. When everyone was about witches, I was all into vampire books, so I didn’t read many books about witches. However, this sounds like a good one with the feel of Salem, but a little bit more. I’ll be buddy reading this one as well with a friend, so I know it’ll be a fun experience.
The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
I recently picked this one up and intrigued by the title and the premise. But you know me, I’m big into that quantum theory in science fiction that this one dives right into that with multi-verses, time and space jumping, and a whole lot of other sci-fi themes that draw me into the world.
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
I’ll be reading this one for my book club, but I’m excited. I’ve been wanting to read Dread Nation for a while and it’s finally time for me to read it. This one sounds super complex with some American history, so it’ll be an interesting read. I imagined this more like a fantasy, but it looks more like historical fiction. But I also see it’s partly horror and partly fantasy. That’s fine with me! Genre is important to me when I read, but I’m not an entire snob who won’t pick up a book because it’s not a genre I read all the time.
Goddess in the Machine by Lora Beth Johnson
I recently picked this up from a bookstagrammer program, but really intrigued by the story. I’ll be reading this one with a buddy and perhaps I’ll write something about it. I love having books that I know little about or an author I would overlook. It makes me feel like I’m making room for books that are great, but don’t get a lot of love.
Speaking of love, I know this one gets a whole lot of praise and I can’t avoid the love any longer. This particular story takes place in Seoul, South Korea, which is where my family is from originally. I can’t believe I’ve been sleeping on this book for a year! I’ll be happily reading this one this month.
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
My final book of the month is Boyfriend Material for my romance book club. This will be my only romance novel of the month, which is kind of funny because this month is Romance Appreciation Month. I’m glad to be finishing the month with a lovely romance especially between two British fellows with a fake relationship trope. OMG, I cannot wait to see where this one goes!
What are you reading this month? Do we have any overlap?
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We’re into a new month and of course, it’s filled with books and more books. Today is a very exciting publishing day because we have sci-fi, dark fantasy, and the book we’ve all been waiting for (or maybe just me. Don’t laugh!). Let’s get right into what’s publishing that I’m very excited to be in the world!
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
You know that I’m ultra excited about this one! The sequel to Gideon the Ninth has been so interesting to this point, but at the same time so confusing. Leave it up to Tamsyn Muir to confuse the heck out of us and then show us that we’ve been shown the clues to the story throughout. I’m currently in the middle of this one and this human doesn’t quit.She answered the Emperor’s call.
She arrived with her arts, her wits, and her only friend.
In victory, her world has turned to ash.
After rocking the cosmos with her deathly debut, Tamsyn Muir continues the story of the penumbral Ninth House in Harrow the Ninth, a mind-twisting puzzle box of mystery, murder, magic, and mayhem. Nothing is as it seems in the halls of the Emperor, and the fate of the galaxy rests on one woman’s shoulders.
Harrowhark Nonagesimus, last necromancer of the Ninth House, has been drafted by her Emperor to fight an unwinnable war. Side-by-side with a detested rival, Harrow must perfect her skills and become an angel of undeath — but her health is failing, her sword makes her nauseous, and even her mind is threatening to betray her.
Sealed in the gothic gloom of the Emperor’s Mithraeum with three unfriendly teachers, hunted by the mad ghost of a murdered planet, Harrow must confront two unwelcome questions: is somebody trying to kill her? And if they succeeded, would the universe be better off?
Lobizona by Romina Garber
Was I completely lured in by the cover? Yes. Is that a bad thing? Heck no (but of course, do your research). This particular story includes some real world issues and a side of fantasy. From the description, it reads more like a literary fiction novel, but I can’t help but not be lured by the “Argentine folklore” tagline.Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who’s on the run from her father’s Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida.
Until Manu’s protective bubble is shattered.
Her surrogate grandmother is attacked, lifelong lies are exposed, and her mother is arrested by ICE. Without a home, without answers, and finally without shackles, Manu investigates the only clue she has about her past–a mysterious “Z” emblem—which leads her to a secret world buried within our own. A world connected to her dead father and his criminal past. A world straight out of Argentine folklore, where the seventh consecutive daughter is born a bruja and the seventh consecutive son is a lobizón, a werewolf. A world where her unusual eyes allow her to belong.
As Manu uncovers her own story and traces her real heritage all the way back to a cursed city in Argentina, she learns it’s not just her U.S. residency that’s illegal. . . .it’s her entire existence.
Igniting Darkness by Robin LaFevers
If you follow along with this blog, then you know I’ve recently read Courting Darkness for the first time. I absolutely loved the slow burning dark fantasy about a pair of women who just so happen to be the daughters of Death. Including some 15th century French history and a bigger plot for the country, I really loved that story and I can’t wait to get into this one. I’ll eventually read the trilogy leading up to the duology, but for now here’s what Igniting Darkness will bring:Sybella, novitiate of the convent of Saint Mortain and Death’s vengeance on earth, is still reeling from her God’s own passing, and along with him a guiding hand in her bloody work. But with her sisters on the run from their evil brother and under the watchful eye of her one true friend (and love) at court, the soldier known as Beast, Sybella stands alone as the Duchess of Brittany’s protector.
After months of seeking her out, Sybella has finally made contact with a fellow novitiate of the convent, Genevieve, a mole in the French court. But when Genevieve mistakenly draws the attention of the French king to the convent of Saint Mortain and its deadly arts, she may do her sisters (and herself) more harm than good. Sybella, having already drawn the ire of the French regent, may not be able to depend on her sister and ally as much as she hoped. Still, Death always finds a way, even if it’s not what one expects.
No one can be trusted and the wolves are always waiting in this thrilling conclusion to the Courting Darkness duology, set in the world of Robin’s beloved His Fair Assassins trilogy.
Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim
First off, I’m a huge fan of Roselle Lim. I read her debut novel Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune last year and patiently waited for this book to appear. Roselle Lim’s first book was just a magical place with some deeper themes about grief and loss done in a way that’s uplifting. I hope the same for this one as well!Vanessa Yu never wanted to see people’s fortunes—or misfortunes—in tea leaves.
Ever since she can remember, Vanessa Yu has been able to see people’s fortunes at the bottom of their teacups. To avoid blurting out their fortunes, she converts to coffee, but somehow fortunes escape and find a way to complicate her life and the ones of those around her. To add to this plight, her romance life is so nonexistent that her parents enlist the services of a matchmaking expert from Shanghai.
The day before her matchmaking appointment, Vanessa accidentally sees her own fate: death by traffic accident. She decides that she can’t truly live until she can find a way to get rid of her uncanny abilities. When her eccentric aunt, Evelyn, shows up with a tempting offer to whisk her away, Vanessa says au revoir to America and bonjour to Paris. While working at Evelyn’s tea stall at a Parisian antique market, Vanessa performs some matchmaking of her own, attempting to help reconnect her aunt with a lost love. As she learns more about herself and the root of her gifts, she realizes one thing to be true: knowing one’s destiny isn’t a curse, but being unable to change it is.
The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of the timey wimey wibbily wobbily stuff. Multiverses and traveling through space and time will always have a special place in my heart. Now, add an author of color who brings identity, privilege, and belonging with an added bonus of queer characters and it’s like science fiction coming to life.Multiverse travel is finally possible, but there’s just one catch: No one can visit a world where their counterpart is still alive. Enter Cara, whose parallel selves happen to be exceptionally good at dying—from disease, turf wars, or vendettas they couldn’t outrun. Cara’s life has been cut short on 372 worlds in total.
On this Earth, however, Cara has survived. Identified as an outlier and therefore a perfect candidate for multiverse travel, Cara is plucked from the dirt of the wastelands. Now she has a nice apartment on the lower levels of the wealthy and walled-off Wiley City. She works—and shamelessly flirts—with her enticing yet aloof handler, Dell, as the two women collect off-world data for the Eldridge Institute. She even occasionally leaves the city to visit her family in the wastes, though she struggles to feel at home in either place. So long as she can keep her head down and avoid trouble, Cara is on a sure path to citizenship and security.
But trouble finds Cara when one of her eight remaining doppelgängers dies under mysterious circumstances, plunging her into a new world with an old secret. What she discovers will connect her past and her future in ways she could have never imagined—and reveal her own role in a plot that endangers not just her world, but the entire multiverse.
Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
Don’t laugh! I’m very excited about the bleeding pomegranate book. A little well known truth is that I was really into Twilight. It was my introduction to YA books and I appreciate it for being that for me. I know the themes are quite problematic, but hopefully there will be some redemption here.When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella’s side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward’s version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.
This unforgettable tale as told through Edward’s eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward’s past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger?
Excited about any of these books? Let me know in the comments!
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Yay! We made it to the end of July! Seriously, it’s been a tough month for me mentally. I’m struggling with staying home, but at least my time is spent with a little more reading than it was last month. This month, I finish out with 11 books under my belt.
There were definitely some things I noticed about my reading this month. First off, it took me five days to read Kevin Kwan’s Sex and Vanity, but then it took me two days to finish Catherine House. They may look similar, but one was a fun, summer book, and the other was a book filled with themes and ideas that made you think beyond your average scope. Two guesses on which was which.
The thing I’m most proud of is that I stuck to my TBR. I didn’t complete my TBR, but the books I read were all the ones I set out to read. However, I do want to make some adjustments for next month. I’ll share more when I share my TBR. For now, here’s what I read:
My Top 5 Standouts
The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune
I read this one on audio and it was such a great experience. The narrator brings a lot of personality to each character. I will say that there were moments when four or five characters are talking at once or their switching off what they’re saying and I couldn’t discern on audio who was who. But this book was fun! It’s got superheroes and teens trying to find their identity among the superheroes. I absolutely adored Nick. He reminded me so much of my friends in high school who would get obsessed with something to the point that they’re writing fan fiction (especially romantic fan fiction between Nick and Shadowstar lol). I also loved that TJ Klune included a kid with ADHD. It’s inclusive AF, it’s got so much to think about, funny and clever, but maybe a little unrealistic and I’m not talking about the superheroes. It’s probably better off you read this one on paper, but it was an interesting read. You can find my review of The Extraordinaries on Goodreads.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
I prioritized this read because 1) the final book in this series is releasing later this year 2) I was participating in the readalong before then! I’ve been collecting these books for a few years and I’m so glad to have finally started reading them. I absolutely loved this first book. I loved the dual narrative because you get the full scope from two perspectives on what’s going on. I’m also a huge fan of spies and court intrigue, so it was definitely there in full force. My only issue? I didn’t start reading them sooner. I can’t wait to continue my dive into this series next month and I can’t wait for the final book. I feel like I’ll have more excitement for that one once I actually finish the ones I have first. You can find my review of An Ember in the Ashes on Goodreads.
Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
This was probably the most cerebral book I read all month and the one that I’m still thinking about today. I will note that this book isn’t for everybody, but if you’re a fan of literary fiction then you can truly appreciate this book. I went on a rant about transcendentalist philosophy in my review, which wasn’t my intention, but the story itself is engaging and has just enough in it to keep you going. I will note there was a little bit of a lull in the middle when Ines is going through school, but what you read there isn’t just unnecessary BS. I like to think that the lull in this book is the complacency of the school and the impact that it has on its students. That impact is more relevant when you finally see the end. I thought it was a wild novel with some twists and turns that kept me reading because I wanted answers. You can find my review of Catherine House on Goodreads.
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne Brown
I just finished this book and wow. I haven’t written my thoughts about this one yet, but I can tell you right now that I absolutely loved it. It has deep magic in it, political intrigue, a little bit of a love story, and a massive world. Seriously, I’m so impressed with the magic in this world. It’s similar to many of the anime shows I watch where magic kind of pops up and a whole other world comes to light, if that makes sense. If anything, I was a little disappointed that the characters were so good at using magic without even trying. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a Mary Sue situation, but it made me a little skeptical.
But I honestly was blown away and the book will keep you engaged and reading because there’s so much happening. And as you read, more and more is revealed into this world and I fell in love with it! I’m a huge fan of complex fantasy books and this is one of them. Nothing should be taken at face value and everything ultimately has an intriguing end. I also loved the characters here. They read incredibly real. I can’t stress that enough because sometimes I read these YA fantasy books and ask why decisions were made and chalk it up to them being teenagers. This read so much more mature, more articulate, and thoroughly well planned. I cannot wait for the second book!
Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers
I read this one for a promotion on my Instagram and I was really worried I wouldn’t like it because it was dense and at some points a little dull, but I ended up really enjoying this one and anticipating the next book. I think the only issue I had with this is that it’s an offshoot from a bigger trilogy LaFevers wrote. If you’ve read her other series, then I would highly recommend this after because there was some stuff happening towards the end and throughout where I didn’t have any context and got lost. It wasn’t the worst thing in the world, but it wasn’t the greatest experience. But it’s another court drama, dual narrative between Genevieve and Sybella. Both of these characters are daughters of Death. One is the best at what she does and the other has been hidden away as a spy for five years. A little bit of a slow burn, but reads way more like an adult fantasy than a YA. You can find my review of Courting Darkness on Goodreads.
Honorable Mentions
- Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- How to Save a Life by Lisa Steinke and Liz Fenton
- Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan
- A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon
Big Standout
Stamped from the Beginning: A Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
This particular book I picked up alongside many other folks in the world after the tragic murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others. Reading a history book is not my favorite thing to do, but I wanted to know more. I wanted to understand when people say that our educational system didn’t include a lot of US history and I’m so thankful to those who suggested this book. It took me two months to read and I read about a chapter or two a day. It’s a big book, but the lessons you’ll learn will definitely resonate. I would highly recommend this book if you’re committed to anti-racist work and understanding the other part of American history that I didn’t know and never really learned. There’s lessons here that will stick with me for the rest of my life.
How did you make out this month? What did you end up reading?
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I’ve been quietly collecting Sabaa Tahir’s books for years, but it wasn’t until recently when I heard her final book for the Ember in the Ashes series was coming out. That alongside a partnership with Penguin Teen has me finally picking up this series and reading it. Let me tell you something, folks, this book did NOT disappoint. Usually, I end up giving the first book in a new (to me) series 3 or 4 stars. It’s not a bad thing, but usually I feel like first books need to establish a ton of world building, introduce the characters, have some growth, and also include some plot devices to move the story forward.
With this particular story, I felt like this was next level. The world building was probably the most minimal part of this story, but I’m figuring that with the other books in the series that will easily be remedied. Here’s more about the book (CW: Rape and sexual harassment threats):
Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.My thoughts
I am so amazed and impressed by this novel.
This story is told through dual POVs alternating between chapters. There is some backtracking on some of the chapter starts because simultaneous scenes happen.
First, the pacing. It feels so natural and moves quickly without overlooking the details. I felt like each event led up to the next. I read some reviews where people thought Elias and Laia’s relationship was forced, but truthfully it didn’t feel like that for me. I thought their progression towards becoming friends was natural. I think it helped that there was an immediate physical attraction to one another. Ahhh young love.
The gradual growth on Laia’s part was my favorite. She starts off as this meek young woman who lived her existence pretty quietly. The experiences she faced while being enslaved to the Commandant really toughened her up. Granted, no one should experience what Laia experienced, but it did lend to her growth and strength. If anything, I would have loved to see more of Laia’s thought process and how she defied the Commandant than just see her pick up a knife and get right to it.
Elias was also a great and complicated character. I felt like the book emphasized Elias’s story much more especially with the surprises about his family, his upbringing, and the decisions he needs to make during the trials. I was way more enamored with Elias’s chapters than with Laia’s. Don’t worry, though. Laia goes through her own personal trials and they aren’t ones to be scoffed at.
I think the only issue I had was that there were a lot of sexual harassment and rape threats. While I understand this is the world that Sabaa Tahir creates, I thought it was weird that the only thing soldiers were interested in doing with women was forcing sex on them. Isn’t that weird? Maybe that’s just me.
I also loved that this book doesn’t end on a cliffhanger. It was the perfect stopping point to get you pumped for the next book without making you wait a million years to see what happens. I felt no rush to get into the next book aside from my own personal excitement.
Overall, I really loved the story and the introduction to this world. I hope that with the next book Tahir will dive a little bit further into this world, but for a first book in a new (to me) series I’m very impressed.
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I’m going to be honest with you, I think I could write an entire research paper about this novel because it is so good with a lot of themes and complex in a way that will make you think. I’m extremely impressed in this debut author and her work. Her writing is eloquent, descriptive, and deceptively literary. Without being confusing or mundane, Elisabeth Thomas creates a utopian world based on transcendentalist philosophy, art, and a little bit of darkness. This is going to be a tough review to write because I don’t want to give the plot away. I feel like this entire book is a spoiler, so read it!
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Happy Tuesday and Happy Pub Day to all the new books out in the world. We’re officially over the half-month mark and with the pandemic, many books have pushed their publishing date to later in the year. But I’m so excited to see that there are a few to get us through the summer months especially in a pandemic where we’re not out much anyway.
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
I’m very excited about this one and just received a gifted copy of the book from Berkley! I think this is going to definitely go on my TBR for next month because it sounds right up my alley. Here’s more about it:
A young woman living in a rigid, puritanical society discovers dark powers within herself in this stunning, feminist fantasy debut.
In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet’s word is law, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast her once-proud family into disgrace, so Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol, and lead a life of submission, devotion, and absolute conformity, like all the other women in the settlement.
But a mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still lurking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the journal of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood.
Fascinated by the secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Church and its history, she realizes the true threat to Bethel is its own darkness. And she starts to understand that if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her.Find The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson on Bookshop.org
Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis
Ever since I read those science fiction novels for the Hugo Awards, I’ve been really intrigued by sci-fi. It’s a genre I would love to get to know better, but it is a huge genre with lots to uncover. So I’m taking it slowly and was super intrigued by this book when I heard about it. I think you might too. Here’s more about it:
Truth is a human right.
It’s fall 2007. A well-timed leak has revealed that the US government might have engaged in first contact. Cora Sabino is doing everything she can to avoid the whole mess, since the force driving the controversy is her whistleblower father. Even though Cora hasn’t spoken to him in years, his celebrity has caught the attention of the press, the Internet, the paparazzi, and the government—and with him in hiding, that attention is on her. She neither knows nor cares whether her father’s leaks are a hoax, and wants nothing to do with him—until she learns just how deeply entrenched her family is in the cover-up, and that an extraterrestrial presence has been on Earth for decades.
Realizing the extent to which both she and the public have been lied to, she sets out to gather as much information as she can, and finds that the best way for her to uncover the truth is not as a whistleblower, but as an intermediary. The alien presence has been completely uncommunicative until she convinces one of them that she can act as their interpreter, becoming the first and only human vessel of communication. Their otherworldly connection will change everything she thought she knew about being human—and could unleash a force more sinister than she ever imagined.Find Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis on Bookshop.org
Paris is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinlayI actually shared this one recently, but wanted to bring it up again since today is pub day. I’m very excited for this book and I can’t wait to read it next month (yup, it’s already added to my tbr). Here’s more about the story:
It’s been seven years since Chelsea Martin embarked on her yearlong post-college European adventure. Since then, she’s lost her mother to cancer and watched her sister marry twice, while Chelsea’s thrown herself into work, becoming one of the most talented fundraisers for the American Cancer Coalition, and with the exception of one annoyingly competent coworker, Jason Knightley, her status as most talented fundraiser is unquestioned.
When her introverted mathematician father announces he’s getting remarried, Chelsea is forced to acknowledge that her life stopped after her mother died, and that the last time she can remember being happy, in love, or enjoying her life was on her gap year. Inspired to retrace her steps–to find Colin in Ireland, Jean Claude in France, and Marcelino in Italy–Chelsea hopes that one of these three men who stole her heart so many years ago, can help her find it again.
From the start of her journey nothing goes as planned, but as Chelsea reconnects with her old self, she also finds love in the very last place she expected.Find Paris is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinlay on Bookshop.org
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Sex and Vanity seemed to have taken the lives of those crazy rich Asians we read about in his first series and brought them to American soil. But with the change in scenery, the story needed to change as well. What would a blue blooded Chinese American look like? How would the world react if there was one of us among them? Kevin Kwan definitely answers those questions in this new novel.
Lucie Churchill was just invited to the wedding of the century. She alongside her cousin, Charlotte, jet off to Capri for a few days of bliss and topped with an extravagant wedding. They immerse themselves in the culture, basking in the beautiful coastlines of Italy while eating deliciously described foods. When she’s in Capri, she meets George Zao. For all intents and purposes, George sounds like the kind of guy you would most definitely catch and keep forever. A hottie with a 12-pack who loves surfing and the environment? He’s also got money and ambitions and loves art and appreciates beautiful music? He’s also putting others first? He loves his mother? Did I mention he was hot? I’m sorry, but if Lucie doesn’t want him, can I have him?And at this point in the novel, Lucie most definitely doesn’t want him. After seeing how Charlotte reacts to George and his mother, Rosemary’s, behavior and then the fatal kiss between Lucie and George at the wedding, it’s no wonder that Lucie doesn’t want anything to do with George. Being with George would mean ridicule and torment for not only marrying into an eccentric family, but also marrying into a Chinese family.
Five years later, nothing’s changed. Lucie is engaged and ready to marry into one of the wealthiest families in America. Now that she’s engaged to a socialite, her priorities are changing as well. It’s planning her opulent wedding, renovating her multi-million dollar townhouse in New York with her fiance, and spending time with her mother and brother as these two families start to get to know each other.
But there’s no way to pull herself out of the attraction with George especially when George shows up everywhere she goes and their families start to get closer.
My thoughts
For the most part, this is most definitely a story about love, friendship, and family. The coastal scenes of Capri and even their vacation in East Hampton will definitely wish you were on vacation right now.
However, Kevin Kwan is super clever and he added a little something extra to make this story just as authentic as he could make it. He talks about racism. Lucie’s experiences with racism are so obvious that you can’t read this book without noticing them. Within 20 pages, you already have Charlotte introducing Lucie to some friends emphasizing how she’s half-Chinese and she’s related through her “American” father (despite her mother being born in Seattle). From that moment on, it was a series of microaggressions throughout the rest of the novel. As Kevin Kwan describe it, they’re like little paper cuts that sting every time you hear them. I think that’s the perfect metaphor for it and what you see over the course of this book.
I really loved Lucie. She was a brilliant artist who didn’t like to make a splash the way her fiance did. She was understated and that just made her shine. I loved the way she would light up when she spoke about art and when she heard her favorite piano concerto. I felt deeply for her when she recalls the day her dad died. However, Lucie kept a lot to herself and kept up appearances frequently. She most definitely hid away her feelings especially when faced with her family. She even suppressed with her fiance. There was a lot of hiding for Lucie especially when it came to outward appearances and how you look in front of others. I felt for her in those moments and know that life a little too well.
And Lucie gets it from everyone. From the wealthy family friend who asks if she sides with her Chinese side or her American side more to the Filipino sisters who asks her specific ethnicity (if you didn’t know, there’s a lot of racism within the Asian countries) to see if she’s one of them. She gets it from her fiance who is always trying to “fix” her the same way her grandmother used to try and “fix” her as well. There’s even some internalized racism from her own mother that’s most definitely had an impact on her life. I found myself asking how do you navigate when the people you’re supposed to trust and love you unconditionally find fault because of your Asian heritage?
I did like the conversation Lucie and Charlotte have about her racism towards the end of the novel, but I also felt like Charlotte was gaslighting her a little bit. I don’t want to say that Charlotte didn’t learn anything or felt the embarrassment of being racist toward her own cousin, but I would have really liked to see Charlotte own up for her mistakes in the past. I also truly appreciated the conversation she has with her mother. It was good to finally hear her perspective in Lucie’s life, but honestly, I felt like these conversations should have unpacked more. Half of Lucie’s existence was hidden to avoid ridicule and distaste. I wonder why Kevin Kwan didn’t put more discussion around this.
I would have loved to see more of George and the discussion regarding racism with him. I know being born and raised in Hong Kong is a different experience than being born and raised in New York City, but I can imagine George struggling through some daily conversations with Westerners and Americans who don’t understand or appreciate the culture he came from. I wanted George and Lucie to have a much deeper conversations regarding it or any conversation outside of how they’re going to hide their feelings.
To be honest, this was the part that kind of annoyed me the most about this book; the relationship between George and Lucie. I feel like George would have brought insight or at least opened Lucie’s eyes a bit if their relationship was allowed to grow on the page. Much of their encounters are met with either sexual tension or just tension, which made their relationship questionable at the end. It didn’t necessarily need to be the main part of the story like a true romance, but I would have liked there to be more conversations between the two even if it was in the friendly sense.
The only other issue I had was the pacing. The entire book seemed to read quite laid back. It wasn’t necessarily slow, but there wasn’t a lot of events that would keep you turning the page (at least for me). But within the last 50 pages, everything picked up. Characters started acting out of character and my hopes for a bigger discussion on the racism components were truncated to a few simple paragraphs. It felt rushed and tidy, which made the ending less fun for me.
Overall, a great book that would start some interesting convos in book clubs. I might actually suggest this one for my own book club. I would love to chat with folks about this one!
- 3.5 stars
- Find my review of Sex and Vanity on Goodreads
- Find Sex and Vanity on Bookshop.org
- Find Sex and Vanity on Amazon
I received a copy of this book from Doubleday for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
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I’m a huge fan of gothic literature and horror stories, so when I heard an author combined both, set it in 1950s Mexico, and had it starring a creepy ass house, I was all over it. And let me tell you. It did NOT disappoint.
TW: domestic abuse and violence, attempted sexual assault and harassment, suicide, homicide, and lots of gorey bits and pieces.
The story follows Noemi, a young socialite who’s days are filled with a pursuit for a degree in anthropology while her nights are filled with champagne and lavish parties and men fawning over her. When she hears her cousin, Catalina, is sick, she decides to take a trip to High Place, the home where Catalina lives with her husband and his family.However, when Noemi arrives at High Place, things aren’t as they seemed. First off, the town is not like where Noemi came from. It was much smaller than the lights of Mexico City. The house itself is falling apart with mold covering the walls. There’s not enough light coming into the home giving off an ominous feel. Noemi isn’t allowed to leave on her own. She can’t smoke. She can’t speak with her cousin because Catalina is sleeping all the time. In Noemi’s boredom, she starts to figure out what’s happening to her cousin and why this opulent home has fallen into such disarray. When Noemi finally uncovers the secrets of High Place, it becomes more than just a creepy ghost story.
My thoughts
I’m a huge fan of horror stories like this where you think you see something from the corner of your eye, but then you ignore it because it’s probably just your brain. But then that thing starts moving and all of a sudden, you’re not in Kansas anymore. That’s what this book felt like; a scary roller-coaster that once you get down the first hill, you’re basically just along for the ride. Also, gothic is most definitely the right word to explain High Place. The foggy scenes in the graveyard gave me so much Bronte sisters vibes that I was eating it up.
I was really intrigued by Noemi. She’s such a complex character and I loved her dimensions. She was a socialite in many ways, but her studies in anthropology and her inquisitive nature both play major roles in the story as she uncovers the secrets of High Place. I love how her intelligence is always thwarted by someone; some dude coming at her trying to trip her up with eugenics or anthropological theories. With a background like hers and then having her explore High Place looking for answers really made me love Noemi so much more. Having the story centered on her experience brings the readers into the story learning alongside her. It was a good vehicle to keep secrets close to the chest and share SMG’s hand slowly while pacing the novel.
The other characters of this novel also play a huge role in the overall story. You’ve got the ambitious grandson who is waiting for his moment to take over the family business. You’ve got the dying grandfather who doesn’t want to die, but coming to terms with it. You’ve got the big old questions about their family and the house, which makes it so much more intriguing. And then on top of all that, you’ve got Noemi and her cousin Catalina and their role in this entire endeavor. The complexity of their family life was probably the big driver of this story because it was COMPLEX. I don’t know if I would ever want to spend a holiday with these folks. lol.
And I will admit, the pace is definitely a slow burn. However, I never felt bored. The story hints at a lot of different things and felt more like a giant puzzle where the pieces eventually all come together. I love an author that drops hints all throughout the story, but doesn’t make it so obvious so that it becomes a big surprise! I found myself going “omg that thing from before! YES! I GET IT!” which is a very fun feeling for me.
In terms of its spookiness, it’s up there. I will admit that I’ve read scarier in my life, but that doesn’t take away from the atmospheric and suspenseful nature of the story. SMG keeps you guessing all the way to the end and even then I feel like she leaves you questioning whether or not what happened actually happened. I love a good book that questions whether what you read was truth.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
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Paris is one of my all time favorite cities. I love the architecture, the endless roads you can walk down. I love being able to sit at a cafe and watch the world go by around me. I love Paris as much as the next person.
Which is why I’m so excited to put a little spotlight on Jenn McKinlay’s newest book, Paris is Always a Good Idea. Let’s get into it:
About the book
It’s been seven years since Chelsea Martin embarked on her yearlong postcollege European adventure. Since then, she’s lost her mother to cancer and watched her sister marry twice, while Chelsea’s thrown herself into work, becoming one of the most talented fundraisers for the American Cancer Coalition, and with the exception of one annoyingly competent coworker, Jason Knightley, her status as most successful moneymaker is unquestioned.When her introverted mathematician father announces he’s getting remarried, Chelsea is forced to acknowledge that her life stopped after her mother died and that the last time she can remember being happy, in love, or enjoying her life was on her year abroad. Inspired to retrace her steps–to find Colin in Ireland, Jean Claude in France, and Marcelino in Italy–Chelsea hopes that one of these three men who stole her heart so many years ago can help her find it again.
From the start of her journey nothing goes as planned, but as Chelsea reconnects with her old self, she also finds love in the very last place she expected.
- Pub Day: July 21, 2020
- Publisher: Berkley Books, trade paperback, 352 pages
- Find Paris is Always a Good Idea on Bookshop.org
- Find Paris is Always a Good Idea on Amazon
About the Author
Jenn McKinlay is the award winning, New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. Her work has been translated into multiple languages in countries all over the world. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with kids, pets, and her husband’s guitars.
Known for her mysteries and romances, this July New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay delivers an ideal, lighthearted summer read that explores the wistfulness of “What if?” PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA follows heroine Chelsea Martin while she retraces her steps from the gap year she took after college that led her to three swoony-worthy men. As Chelsea visits the heartthrobs she left behind in Ireland, France, and Italy, McKinlay provides such a tangible, lush atmosphere that you will feel as if you’ve gone on your own European excursion without leaving your couch.
Simone and Her Books 