Simone and Her Books

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  • Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston // Review

    Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston // Review

    I’m so happy to start off Pride month with a Pride book and truly blessed I got to read Casey McQuiston’s Red, White, and Royal Blue!

    The story starts with young Alex heading off to England with his sister to attend a royal wedding. He finds out that Prince Henry of Wales will be there, but that doesn’t make him excited. In fact, it makes him aggravated as he found Henry to be a little full of himself and totally sold on the royal life. But when Henry and Alex are forced to be best friends due to the shenanigans taking place, Alex starts to warm up to Henry ultimately starting a cross-continental relationship so risky even Alex’s mother, current president of the US, faces scrutiny as the big presidential elections approach.

    This isn’t your average romance. Yes, there’s a whole romantic theme that follows the rules of the Romance Writers of America, but it also discusses LGBTQIA issues, geo-political issues, and the politics of running for president. I felt really bad for Henry and Alex because they weren’t two boys in love and they were in the same high school. It wasn’t that they were in college. It was two boys who were very public figures and one even being royalty. I loved how McQuiston brought their relationship to fruition.

    Of course there was the sneaking around and praying to God that they won’t get caught, but the fallout was way harsher than I thought it would be.  I actually that felt super realistic as the world tries to dissect a young couple’s relationship. It’s already hard enough to be in a relationship in a private life, but when your life is in the public eye it becomes the center of judgment and scrutiny. I loved Henry and Alex so much that I wanted them to have a fighting chance.

    I also really loved the scandal surrounding their relationship. In real life, I don’t want anyone to feel that way, but to see how it’s used and manipulated for the gains of someone else was interesting. I loved that Casey McQuiston included that despite how dark and real it feels.

    The writing itself is also very sophisticated especially for a romance novel. I thought I would finish this one in a day, but it took me four days of reading to finish it. I would strongly recommend taking your time with this book because it is pretty long and pretty detailed. I loved this about the book, but I can also see a lot of folks losing their patience waiting for the author to get to the point.

    Which leads me to the thing I didn’t like. I think the one big issue I had with this book is the ending. While I won’t give away what happens at the end, the ending basically covers the night of the election. THE WHOLE NIGHT. Page after page it was just waiting for the results of the election coming in from every state. I thought it was a little overwrought and too much for a romantic novel. It would make sense if the election was a bigger theme than the relationship between Henry and Alex.

    As great as that was, it didn’t really lend anything extra to the story and really just made it longer. I can understand the author wanting to make the election results suspenseful, but it felt too extra. I honestly think the last 30 pages could have been written as a paragraph summing up the election results and then sharing something more about Alex and Henry’s relationship after the election.

    I received a copy of this book from Booksparks for free in exchange for promotion. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • May 2019 Bookish Wrap Up

    May 2019 Bookish Wrap Up

    Happy End of May!

    What a weird month it’s been. I don’t know about you, but it’s definitely been a weird one for me. I thought we would get a lot of reading done, but that’s a bust. I thought we would get a lot of writing done, but that feels busted too. It’s not like I sit at home doing nothing all day. Stuff gets done, but sometimes it feels like you’re always playing catch up. Is that the case for any of you?

    In May, I read 10 books in total. 7 of those books are for myself and 3 were for work. As I started this month, I wanted to focus on books written by Asian American authors to celebrate Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. While I knew I couldn’t dedicate my entire month to reading only Asian authors, I wanted the majority of my month to reflect that. I think I did a good job with 4/7 books I read being from Asian authors (which is more than 50% so I’m going to just be happy with that).

    While I can’t talk about the books I read for work, I do know that two of them were by Asian authors as well. I want to note that, but not mention the specific titles because I can’t talk about them lol. Oh, the wonders of being a book reviewer.

    My favorites of the month were most definitely With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo and Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim. Both of these books are inspired by food sharing recipes and heritage passed down by generations of cooks. They both share main characters with a passion for cooking and want to pursue it in some way.

    However, you’ll get a different story from both. Elizabeth Acevedo’s book deals with a teenage mom theme, which I’ve never seen in stories before. I was so curious as to why more YA authors don’t explore this theme, but I hope With the Fire on High inspires other writers to dive into the topic. For Roselle Lim’s book, it’s more about loss and grief. I’ve read plenty of books regarding this topic, but this one seems to use it in a positive light to celebrate life instead of death.

    Finally, I read Miracle Creek by Angie Kim because folks on the Internet was hyping this book up and I wanted to see what all the shouting was about. While I wasn’t completely enthralled by this read, I did find it interesting and kept my attention the entire novel. It’s definitely a great book for those who love a good courtroom drama and the secrets really keep themselves that way until the very end, which I love.

    What did you read this month?

  • The Backlist Book Club June 2019 Pick

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    Hey everyone!

    I’m here to announce the June 2019 book for The Backlist Book Club. This book has been on my list for quite some time and because June is Pride, I wanted to put together a list of books that LGBTQIA friends and allies can read together.

    On Patreon, I put together a quick poll for my patrons to vote for their book pick. The votes are in and June’s book will be: The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson

    This nonfiction story is Maggie Nelson’s memoir about her relationship with Harry Dodge, an artist and writer, who also identifies as gender fluid. The story is centered around their relationship and the baby Maggie Nelson is about to have as these two folks create a family together.

    Here’s the official dates for discussion:

    Live discussion with me June 29, 2019 at 7PM ET/4PM PT. Sign up at Patreon to discuss the book with me in an exclusive livestream.

    Book discussion on Instagram is June 30th, 2019. I’ll be posting a discussion picture with some questions regarding the book.

    I’m excited to be reading books for Pride and I hope this launches us into a great month of reading. Will you be joining us next month?

  • Weekend Wrap up // May 24, 2019

    Weekend Wrap up // May 24, 2019

    Happy Friday, everyone!

    The Jam of the Week has got to be It’s All Coming Back to Me Now by Celine Dion. I remember listening to this song as a kid in car rides with my mom and sister. We would just sit there and belt out the tune with Celine. Of course, we didn’t do it justice like she did, but we were kids and she’s THE GREATEST SINGER IN THE WORLD.

    Well, this week was a pretty busy week with work, reviews, and articles all due. I spent most of my time staring at a computer screen than pages of a book because it was just that busy. But I’m feeling really caught up, accomplished, and going into the weekend with some fun books to read.

    Links I Loved

    The Carpool Karaoke featuring Celine Dion. I know I featured Celine for my jam of the weekend, but I can’t get enough of her. I honestly google the price for her Vegas show I’m so into Celine Dion. I think it’s her ability to be goofy and silly and bring out the serious when she needs to bring it out. I love that she’s so playful, but then gets on stage and belts out the hits. Also, she’s done some of the most iconic love songs in the entire world, which was surprising to me.

    The new trailer for Star Trek: Picard. Ok, so I’m a trekkie. I absolutely love Star Trek: The Next Generation and Picard is my captain (I’m sorry fans of the OG). So when I heard that they were bringing back Picard and creating a new series around the latter part of his career, well I couldn’t resist. But I think what really solidified this news for me was the teaser trailer. It’s so atmospheric and I can’t wait for it to start!

    Launching my Patreon! So this news will be a little bit more relevant next month when we finally have a June pick and I figure out how to set up the dates for the the book club discussion. A lot of folks reached out to me about my hesitation with starting a Patreon (mostly because I’m afraid people will hate me for charging money) and reassured me that this is a good move. What I’m doing will support the endeavors I’m making and there’s nothing to be ashamed of.

    What I’m Reading This Weekend

    Well, next week the Girls Night In Book Club is meeting in LA, so I need to read the book for the meeting. They chose American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson. Here’s more about the book:

    It’s 1986, the heart of the Cold War, and Marie Mitchell is an intelligence officer with the FBI. She’s brilliant but she’s also a young black woman working in an old boys’ club, and her career has stalled out; she’s overlooked for every high profile squad, and her days are filled with monotonous paperwork. So when she’s given the opportunity to join a shadowy task force aimed at undermining Thomas Sankara, the charismatic, revolutionary president of Burkina Faso, whose Communist ideology has made him a target for American intervention, she says yes. Yes, even though she secretly admires the work Thomas is doing for his country. Yes, even though she is still grieving the mysterious death of her sister, whose example led Marie to this career path in the first place. Yes, even though a furious part of her suspects she’s being offered the job because of her appearance and not her talent.

    In the year that follows, Marie will observe Thomas, seduce him, and ultimately, have a hand in the coup that will bring him down. But doing so will change everything she believes about what it means to be a spy, a lover, a sister, and a good American.

    Inspired by true events–Thomas Sankara is known as “Africa’s Che Guevara”–this novel knits together a gripping spy thriller, a heartbreaking family drama, and a passionate romance. This is a face of the Cold War you’ve never seen before, and it introduces a powerful new literary voice.

  • Miracle Creek by Angie Kim // Review

    Miracle Creek by Angie Kim // Review

    Ok I liked the book. Was I absolutely in love with it the way the Bookstagram community was? Not really, but it was still a good book and definitely worth the read.

    The story starts off with a bang when a hyperbaric oxygen chamber explodes in Miracle Creek, Virginia. The reason for the explosion? A lit cigarette sitting on top of a pile of twigs right by the oxygen tanks. The explosion wounded several people inside the chamber and killed two people as well. The rest of the story follows the trial of Elizabeth Ward; a mother of one of the victims and main suspect.

    The story follows every single person involved in the explosion. From the people inside the submarine to the folks running the show to even people behind the scenes. Each chapter is one character’s personal side to this story while also sharing the proceedings happening during Elizabeth’s trial. As you read, you start to see how things come undone and how the tragedy in the Miracle Submarine are more than what meets the eye.

    This book is for anyone who likes a good mystery. The book is written as a courtroom drama, but I think you can also categorize this as a thriller. While you see the explosion through the eyes of the character, I think that’s what keeps the story going; you’re always relying on the narrator of that part to share with you what’s going on. Each event is shared slowly to increase the suspense and keep you reading. It’s brilliantly written with so much sub-context for you to rifle through after. I think the guess was easy for me, but I don’t want to say it was predictable. I think that Angie Kim provides a lot of room for people to make their guesses throughout the novel, but when you see what happens at the end then you’ll be spooked for sure.

    The book also explores some very important themes. First off, there’s the Yoo family. They’re the ones that own the medical company who treat patients in the submarine. They’re originally from South Korea and came to America in hopes of a better future and  you see from all three sides of the family how that American dream holds up. I loved that Angie Kim shares these stories because it really discusses the immigrant’s story from both adults who are doing everything they can to be successful and their daughter who feels displaced and outcasted in a country that doesn’t understand her or her people.

    Then there are the patients. The patients vary from a man suffering with infertility to children with autism spectrum disorder or cerebral palsy. The hyperbaric chamber is created because there’s this idea that 100% pure oxygen fed directly to these patients will help them with the issues they face. It’s a really interesting concept and it dives so well into the world of mothers with special needs children. I felt like it was what mothers do think about, but really don’t want to if that makes sense.

    And while the components and themes of the novel seem really interesting, what’s good about this book is how these all incorporate into a bigger picture; who actually caused the explosion? It was so intricate like staring into a tapestry you know took 800 hours to make. From far away, you see this courtroom drama but when you look into the details you see that it’s much more than that.

    I will say that the pacing did annoy me in some parts. I don’t know if that was me or if the book was a slow burner, but there were some pretty detailed spots especially during the trial while the lawyers are explaining their positions. It might just be me, but it did deter me a little from enjoying this book fully.

    All in all, amazing read. You’re going to have fun with this one and come away with some surprising ends.

    I received a copy of this book from FSG for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • The Backlist Book Club: Now on Patreon!

    The Backlist Book Club: Now on Patreon!

    Hey everyone!

    I just wanted to announce something I’ve been really hesitant to do, but now I feel like I’m at a place where I can do this and hopefully be successful at it.

    Remember that book club I started a few months back, announced and discussed a few books, and then got sidetracked by life and didn’t pick it up again? Well, I didn’t want you to think I’ve completely forgotten, but I wanted to approach it in a different way.

    So I’m bringing back the book club, but I also wanted to do something special with it. I love sharing my reads and my opinions on books and the Backlist Book Club is something I’m kind of proud to have created. But I know people want to see more engagement, more posts, and generally feel more involved in an online book club. And for that, I’ve launched my Patreon page with one tier: The Backlist Book Club.

    Why did I create my Patreon? Well, generally I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I want to bring you more content and more for your bookish life, but I didn’t know how and where I would find the time. In truth, I wish I can make money off my blog and Instagram but I need to focus my efforts on my paid gigs and that means certain things don’t get the time and attention that they require.

    So I figured I’ll continue running my book club, but also hope that I can get paid and continue to run it outside of everything else I’ve been doing. This is why I decided to create my Backlist Book Club tier. For a monthly fee, you’ll be able to help choose the book for next month, read insightful articles and interviews I find on the Internet about the book, and receive an invitation to a livestream of me talking to you about my thoughts on the book at the end of every month.

    The Backlist Book Club will still be available on my Instagram page. I’ll still announce the book and leave a discussion post to talk about the themes. I don’t want you to think you need to pay me to be a part of it, but I do want to make more fun content around it. I wanted to make something a little extra for those who are willing to pay to be a part of the club. If you like participating with me, talking with me, choosing the next read, and really wanting to get involved with the book club some more, then join me! It’ll be rocky at first, but I’ll be asking for suggestions and improving the process as I go along.

    You can become a Patron by clicking this link.

    Thank you for listening. I know that a blog post announcing I’m taking money doesn’t feel authentic, but I hoped my explanation in all of this gives you some context as to where I’m coming from.

  • Getting Started on Bookstagram: My REAL Advice

    Getting Started on Bookstagram: My REAL Advice

    Ok, I’m going to try and do my best with this question. While I wish I can share with you the secrets of Instagram’s algorithm and how to gain more followers on an app that has millions and millions of people using it everyday, I’m also bound to those algorithms and what I can share with you is what’s worked for me. I hope you can use this advice and take the next steps to becoming a bookstagrammer.

    I want to first mention that this isn’t easy work. Gaining followers, getting free books, promotions, and engagement require a significant amount of time during your day. I usually set up social media times between chapters. If I need a break from work, I take to Instagram for ten minutes to respond to messages, comments, and generally look at my feed. I also use that time to make my stories. Many of my bookstagram friends have full time jobs and manage their accounts on their nights and weekends. It’s dedication and a lot of hard work to keep this running (which is why some folks aren’t so happy to be doing this all for free. That’s another story for another time).

    Also, I want to emphasize that this advice is for anyone who wants to become a “book influencer.” If you’re not into that kind of thing, you are more than welcome to enjoy bookstagram as a viewer. You can follow your favorite authors and bookstagrammers and keep your page just for your own updates. There ‘s a million and one ways you can share your reads on the Internet and I commend you for taking that route!

    But if you’re looking to build a following and be a bad ass book person on Instagram, here’s some real advice for you:

    Overall, bookstagram is all about consistency. Some people treat bookstagram as a daily blog about their reading life or regular life. Others only post photos of books they’re reading or only book reviews. Figure out how you want to post on Instagram and then be consistent. Keep to a posting schedule. Don’t disappear. When it comes to bookstagram and gaining followers,  you need to be present and consistent. Share who you are on stories. Share your thoughts in a respectful manner and you’ll eventually find your audience. But here’s some other things you want to keep in mind when starting out.

    Start with the books you own

    As a new bookstagrammer, it’s not going to be easy to get a publisher to send you books. Some publishers require you to have a specific number of followers, so you’ll need to start with the books you own. If it’s a new book you’re looking for, try and see if the library has a copy. Check out sites like Book Outlet where you can get books for a much cheaper price than Amazon. While many folks like physical book photos, you can also post Kindle posts. I know accounts dedicated solely to Kindle reads or ebook reads and that’s good too.

    There’s no rules on genre or type of book. Many bookstagrammers tend to feature newer books because being a bookstagrammer is basically being a professional book-hype person. You’re promoting new books and new reads to your audience. If you are promoting new books, I strongly encourage you to only promote books you would actually read. This is going to be tough because you’re going to be offered some really different things in the future, but if you keep to who you are and what you believe in, then you might find success.

    Work on your photography

    You don’t need a fancy degree in photography in order to do well on Bookstagram. Yes, the accounts that only have 200 pictures and over 50k followers may grow a bit faster because their book photos are gorgeous, but they also require a lot of work and editing, and appeal to aesthetically-driven folks. Nothing wrong with that, but I just don’t have time to be James Trevino.

    Look for aesthetics that you find pleasing. There’s a lot of choices from flatlays to book stacks to reading casually shots. There’s the sepia toned pictures, the cool colors, the dark contrast, the shadows blurred out. Many people take to bookstagram as a way to express their own personal style, which I love.

    You don’t need to have fresh flowers, spend all your money on lattes, or make frequent trips to HomeGoods. Those are great if you want to get a little bit more aesthetic, but it’s not necessarily the end-all-be-all. Sometimes what works is just your book, yourself, and a cup of tea. Sometimes it’s good lighting and a clever quote. Of course you can always grab inspiration from other bookstagrammers, but don’t copy. Don’t copy someone’s aesthetic or use their photos for your page. That’s a surefire way to get called out and reported to Instagram.

    I don’t use any fancy equipment. I use my iPhone and VSCO to photograph and edit my pictures. I did follow some basic photography articles to frame the photos better and have more enticing shots, but you can easily Google for some tutorials. Don’t be afraid to go for it!

    The biggest benefit you can get from working on your photos is reposts by publishing houses, bookish companies (like Book of the Month, who has the highest number of followers in all of bookstagram), or being featured on a bookstagram feature account (like @booksandbeans or @mybookfeatures). If you can tag and be noticed by these big groups, it’ll widen your reach and maybe put a few followers in your hands. So making sure you have aesthetically pleasing photos will capture those folks’ eyes and hopefully give you the opportunity to be on their page.

    Look at your analytics

    Not just the numbers. Don’t care about how many followers left or how many you’ve gained. Don’t even look at your likes. Look at your content. Make some overall summations on what your followers like and don’t like about your photos. What photos tend to do better on your page? What doesn’t? How can you improve the photos that don’t? You have to remember that Instagram is still an aesthetics game and sometimes serving what your followers like will help to boost those numbers. While we’re all here for the bookish thoughts and sharing our love of reading, we also have to keep in mind that Instagram on the whole is entirely visually. Folks are scrolling through their feeds casually. Sometimes they don’t even read your captions, so see what captures their eye.

    For me, a lot of my followers and outside of my group love photos of open books. They love seeing me in my “natural habitat” reading a book with a cup of coffee in a cozy corner of my home. They always respond to photos where I’m in it. They don’t like just the cover or any of the ones that I put more work into the photo. LOL. This is good for me to know because then I can make content that will engage my followers and make them hit that like button. It makes it easier for me to plan a book photo session and how I want to stage my book.

    Play with your tags

    If you don’t understand how hashtags work on Instagram, it’s basically an easy way to gain exposure. If you don’t tag your post, it’s likely to get lost in the billions of photos that exist on Instagram. How do you make yourself known?

    I personally don’t like tags. It’s a little bit of extra work that you need to do otherwise you might not get the additional exposure outside of your group of friends. The only piece of advice I have for you when it comes to tags is keep them relevant and mix them up.

    Apparently Instagram knows when you’re using the same tags everyday. It can tell with its little electronic brain that you’ve just made some quick keys adding 800 hashtags to your post. Don’t abuse the hashtag system because Instagram will bury your post. Just use a relevant handful of tags and mix them up everyday. I tend to use the same 30 or so tags, but mix them up. Some days I’ll use the cozy tags because my photos always invoke a cozy feeling. Other days I’ll be talking about a book review or a bookstack and then I will want to tag appropriately for that. The hashtag game is a little bit exhausting, but as long as you keep them relevant to your post and mix them up every other day, then you’re golden.

    TALK TO PEOPLE

    I cannot stress how important it is to talk to people. It’s called SOCIAL media for a reasons. It’s called a Book COMMUNITY for a reasons. Engage with people and not just try to get noticed by a big account. Talking to the people who actually follow you allows them to get to know you better. Commenting on posts also helps start those conversations, but you have to be relevant. What you’re trying to do here is build a relationship with people. This is why YouTube stars do so well. You’re talking to someone and sharing a little bit of your life with them.

    The book community is quite big and we love to talk. We talk about books, book reviews, bookstagram, new books, reading, reading life, whatever. There are so many topics to choose from, so write about them in your posts, talk to the people who comment and don’t forget to talk to others outside your circle. You can easily expand your reach if you open up.

    I strongly advise not asking for shout outs or how to get more followers or how to get free books. These kinds of conversations aren’t genuine and you might be curious as to how that happens, but it’s not the place to do it (unless the bookstagrammer says otherwise).

    Be respectful

    This has got to be the biggest piece of advice I can provide you. BE RESPECTFUL. There are A LOT of opinions on books here and that stirs a lot of emotions. If you want to get noticed and be a respected member of this community (and most importantly, be respected for your opinions on books), you need to understand that there are going to be a ton of differences in opinion out there. Reading opinions, genre opinions, political opinions, lifestyle opinions –it’s all going to be different, but the only way for our community to thrive is through respect.

    If you don’t agree with a review, let them know privately or discuss the book in an adult way together. Do not call someone out for not liking a book and in return, do not call someone out for calling you out.

    I feel like this is unique to bookstagram because we’re not trying out some yoga pants or a new matcha drink and sharing our opinions on it. These are BOOKS; they take time to read, time to process, and then time to actually come up with something to say about them. A lot of effort goes into forming these opinions, so speak to people in the same manner you want to be spoken to. Share your thoughts and feelings in a respectful way. Don’t shame anyone for the kinds of books they choose to read or their opinions on it.

    You don’t have to love every book that comes out. You’re more than welcome to hate on books, but there’s a way to criticize a book you didn’t like that doesn’t upset others or the author. Books take a lot of hard work and dedication to write and authors appreciate feedback that critiques the book but doesn’t bash it to death with a sledgehammer. Bashing a book doesn’t explain at all why the book didn’t work for you. It doesn’t give other readers a sense of how they’ll feel before they read the book. Reviews are meant to be informative and critical, not hateful.

    Something else to keep in mind is that not all bookstagrammers are alike. There are bookstagrammers dedicated to solely YA, fantasy, romance, literary fiction, diverse fiction, or LGBTQ fiction to name a few. There’s non-fiction accounts. There’s accounts dedicated to only reading library books. There’s even folks who write notes in the margins, bend back their covers, or even dog-ear their pages. There’s so many variants that it makes it easy for anyone with a very specific interest in books to find their people. However, none of these groups are invalid for their interest. No person should shame another for only reading romance or dog-earing their pages or only borrowing from the library. Like I said before, there’s a lot of differences in our group and if we want to keep bookstagram a community where everyone is welcome, then we need to keep these in mind.

    And yeah, perhaps stirring the pot gets you followers and likes and all that, but do you really want to be remembered as the person who calls out folks who don’t like the books you like? To me, that doesn’t feel like a good PR move.

    This is a marathon not a sprint

    I think the final piece of advice I can give you is that this will take time. Unless you’re a whiz at social media (and even then, I think you’ll have trouble), it will take time for you to be noticed. It will take time to build your following. It will take time to create your content. I’ve been doing this for close to four years now and while I love the book community and participating on Bookstagram, I still don’t make money on my blog. I have four part-time jobs (Instagram and blog content for myself, and then two part-time paid book positions). But don’t worry. Patience is always rewarded, so don’t give up. The community is growing ever so slowly and eventually the work we’ve put into creating our content will have its rewards. Keep going!

  • Weekend Wrap Up // May 17, 2019

    Weekend Wrap Up // May 17, 2019

    Happy Friday, everyone!

    I know I posted this song last week, but now there’s a video and it’s seriously cute. I suggest you take a gander as Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber have some fun in front of a green screen.

    I feel like there’s a trend of dudes creating music in honor of their significant others. With “Sucker” and now this, it feels like everyone is so happy to be married and in love. Maybe it’s just me, but I love me a good love anthem.

    Links I Loved

    The best news I heard this week (and the bar was pretty low this week, thanks America) is The Hating Game being turned into a movie! YAY! If you haven’t read The Hating Game, it’s a romcom written by Sally Thorne with an enemies-to-lover storyline. I love me some enemies to lovers and this book is definitely worth the purchase. While I’m not fully on board with the casting,

    Riverhead is currently working to get Jacqueline Woodson’s new novel (Red at the Bone) into the hands of #ownvoices readers. Wow. I mean, wow. This is next level of the reader game. Many diverse readers have been slighted recently because of their numbers and books have been given out to a more white audience. This is a bad look especially since #ownvoices reviewers are able to talk to the nuances of a story. I think Riverhead taking the initiative to get a highly-anticipated novel into #ownvoices hands is the future. We should stop worrying about the number of followers someone has and more on how they can provide interesting insight into their reviews.

    This recipe for the perfect peanut sauce. I made Pinch of Yum’s peanut sauce earlier this week to make a delicious and quick Pad Thai for lunch. The sauce is so umami with tons of peanut buttery goodness that I’ll be using the sauce to make a curry later this week. It’s definitely great to try unless you have a peanut allergy.

    The Bachelorette started this week! I know people aren’t fans of The Bachelorette, but if you look at this as another fictional drama (where you have to admit, some of these personalities are totally put on) then it’s more enjoyable to watch. I love the antics, the drama, and the vying for one person. There was definitely drama in that first day, which is new and surprising. I mean, I know most of those dudes probably has a girl back home waiting in the wings (which is gross), but I hope the one Hannah chooses doesn’t break her heart. I do hope that Hannah B finds love because her message back at the end of The Bachelor was the perfect message for all people looking for love.

    Blog Posts of the Week

    I posted my thoughts on With the Fire on High this week. Wow, that book was so great. With the Fire on High explores the story of a young woman named Emoni who is just about to start the rest of her life. She’s entering her final year of high school without a clear understanding of what she wants only to emerge from that year more grown up, more mature, and filled with more love. It also explores the teen mother theme, which was interesting because I don’t think I’ve read any YA with a teen mother as the main character. It brings a lot of perspective and insight when you see her try to juggle her work, school, and taking care of her daughter. But you also see a lot of love, which makes me happy too. You can find it here on Amazon.

    I got a little silly and posted what my dream library would look like. It’s a little bit of silly blog posting, but I thought it would be nice to daydream a little this week.

    My thoughts on The Poppy War are also on the blog. The Poppy War was so good and if you’re into military fantasy or getting started with fantasy, this might be a good place to begin. It’s not too overdone with the magic, the world is easy to follow, and the story moves. You might feel intimidated to start this one, but the story moves quickly especially with its descriptions of its battles and the short-tempered dialogue Rin has with her comrades.

    What I’m Reading this Weekend

    Ok, this whole month is messed up for me in terms of reading. I’ve been trying to read Asian/Pacific Islander authors, but I’ve also got my work books and I’ve got a whole pile of books I bought recently I want to get into. I’m also doing some book promotions this summer and want to actually read those too.

    So I think I’m going to read Miracle Creek by Angie Kim this weekend. I’ve heard this book is mind blowing and definitely worth the read, so I’m going to do it. I’m going to read it, see what all the hype is about and maybe reassess how I choose my books for June. Sheesh.

  • With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo // Review

    With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo // Review

    Alright, I’m going to do my best reviewing this book because thing 1) I’m not Afro-Puerto Rican so I don’t know that life and thing 2) I don’t have any children.

    Not to say you need either to read this book. I’m just saying this perspective won’t be as nuanced as someone who may #ownvoices this book. But as the general public who loves to read authors of color, I’m glad this book exists.

    Let’s get started:

    This is the story of young Emoni, a 17-year-old teen who’s about to enter her final year of high school and embarking on the next part of her journey. However, she’s also a single mom living with her grandmother and desperately trying to make ends meet. She’s constantly berated by the other students at school for her status as a teen mom and her life decisions need to include her baby. When her school offers a culinary course for the first time, Emoni is super excited. She loves food and cooking and has a knack for flavors and spices. However, the class also offers a week in Spain and Emoni hasn’t left her kid’s side since she had her. She can see herself pursuing a career in culinary arts, but also needs to consider her daughter and their struggle to stay afloat.

    Wow, I mean, this story discusses some big themes. I think one of the biggest themes is being a young mother. I don’t think I’ve read any YA stories with teen mothers, but it really was interesting to read. Many decisions Emoni needed to make also required the addition of her daughter. She wanted to go to college, but she needs to find a school close to her. She’s about to go on a trip to Spain and she needs to figure out how to manage that. She’s interested in someone romantically, but she needs to be mindful of her daughter’s feelings before introducing him to her. So many of her decisions were based on very adult and mature thinking. Emoni doesn’t do anything impulsively…until she gets into the kitchen. I also really loved that Elizabeth showed life as a young mother. Emoni has to juggle school, work, and taking care of her baby. I know many moms from my old job and it was difficult to juggle work and taking care of their baby, so I couldn’t imagine what it’s like for someone who’s still trying to graduate high school.

    Another big theme is the prejudice, discrimination, and racism Emoni faces everyday. She’s ridiculed because she can’t speak Spanish well. She doesn’t look “black” enough. She’s taunted because she had a daughter at such a young age. People think she’s “easy” because she had sex early. I loved that Elizabeth Acevedo brought up these points because it really brings the story to reality. And the best part is that it’s mostly micro-aggressions. You don’t ever hear someone straight up calling her the N word or telling her to go back to her country, but it’s there. You see it in the way people ask their questions or even the pursed lips of an older woman on the bus. These micro-aggressions are what many people of color face (myself included). It’s the wrong question or a comment you don’t know what to respond with. You may not think it’s racism because it doesn’t blind you in the face with words, but that silent judgment is enough to make a good day into a bad one.

    I think what I loved the most is how much Emoni loves her daughter. She tries to juggle school and homework and an after-school job and her friendships while getting home in time to spend time with her kid. While Emoni has the attitude of a teenager sometimes, many of her decisions are considered thoroughly (through the pros and cons) and mature. And all the while she’s still learning and observing and becoming more enriched. It was most definitely a coming-of-age story, but one many adults can get behind because it reminded me a lot of post-graduate me. This girl’s got it all figured out before she finishes high school and I’m still struggling.

    Finally, the food! OMG when I heard that this book will also be about food and cooking, I was already intrigued. The story includes a couple of recipes for you to try and it also convey’s Emoni’s personal culinary expertise which I thought was so great. I kind of wish there was more descriptions of food. For example, what does the risotto taste like to Emoni? How did she feel trying tapas in Spain? I would have loved those descriptions to be richer.

    What I absolutely love about Elizabeth Acevedo’s writing is that it isn’t complicated. She embodies Emoni’s voice and personality and doesn’t break for a minute. I absolutely love writing like this because it feels real. It feels like you’re reading from the actual perspective of the character with their specialized language. I loved the nicknames she had for her friends and family. I loved that she called her daughter Babygirl, but unafraid to bring out her legal name when she’s in trouble. The writing is most definitely a draw and keep you fully immersed in the story.

    I think the only issue I had with this book is that everything seemed to resolve itself at the end. I don’t want to say it was easy and there were some things that will probably take time to heal (like forgiving her father or working together with her baby daddy), but many issues just kind of happily ended.

    Aside from that, it’s a great story about a young person’s decisions for the next part of life. I think this book works for anyone between the ages of 17-35 because I’m 34 and I’m still struggling to figure everything out.

    I received a copy of this book from Epic Reads for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • My Dream Library

    My Dream Library

    The other day, my friend Emma and I were on our way to Ojai county and we got to talking. I posed the question “if you were gifted a billion dollars tomorrow, what would you do with it?” It was a good question to ask for a long car ride and Emma definitely had some great ideas. I had my own as well, but the one we both agreed on is having an amazing library.

    I kept thinking about it and the dream library is something many book lovers want. Many people already have their dream library in their own home, while others like me are still just dreaming.

    When I think about my library, the main components are ease, comfort, and relaxation. I want a room surrounded by books with lots of good light and maybe even some music quietly playing in the corner. Here’s my requirements for a wonderful library:

    A coffee maker and hot water maker

    My biggest accompaniments with books is tea or coffee. I love a warm drink while I’m reading and I need to have a coffee maker or a hot water maker in the room. I wouldn’t have a lot of food in my room (maybe some hidden snacks in fake books), but drinks are most definitely important. I would love a little tea set or a french press for making coffee. I don’t want anything too complicated or make too much of a mess, but I would love to remove that extra step going to the kitchen and getting more.

    Cushy chairs and a couch

    Not only would I want a cushy chair, but I want a full on couch. I basically want my library to be a second living room, but maybe without a TV. I want plants and I want a big couch that I can take naps on and read on and just live on. Cushy chairs and comfy couches are super important to anyone who sits on their butt all day and reads.

    Bookish wall hangings

    I think one of the most special things I want to do for my library is have some beautiful wall hangings. Either it’s posters of some of my favorite stories, or even a framed picture of my favorite indie bookstore bookmarks. I would love my wall hangings to be memories and souvenirs I’ve picked up while I’ve gone to different bookstores. I might even have a shelf just for my souvenir cups and mugs.

    Bookshelves

    Well, of course there needs to be bookcases and shelves in a library. For my shelves, I actually don’t like tall cases. I think it’s because I can’t see what’s on the top shelf and I love decorating the top of my cases with fun little tidbits. I love Funko dolls, little statues, and anything that makes the room feel a little more lived in. I like shelves that aren’t taller than me because then there’s room to fit pieces on the walls. I would probably also do some floating shelves of books or even for plants and other finds.

    A big old window

    I’m not a fan of window seats because they’re mostly uncomfortable for me. I’d much prefer sitting in a nice chair or a comfy couch to read. However, I absolutely love the big window with tons of light. Reading light is always important and while I would have some floor lamps and some overhead lighting, I would love to have big windows to let the light in and make it fun to read during the day.

    What would be in your dream library?