amandasbrews's Reviews (454)

I was fortunate to read multiple drafts of this book and when i tell you it is one of the best books ive ever read, I'm not exaggerating.

This book is full of yearning, confusion, love, diaspora, and so so so much heart. its one of the only books that's ever kept me up at night. it ripped my soul to shreds and helped me cry a giant weight off my shoulders.

And most important to me, mixed southeast asian rep

I'm always here to cheer on more Vietnamese books and this one did not disappoint at all. I love the way Mai Nguyen shows the complexities of family, the way that the white gaze affects us negatively even when it's "good intentioned," the way that we are affected by things that are out of our control and how we respond to them. I can't wait for this book to be out in the world so that everyone else can read.

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please i was swept away with the magic and the romance. and the 1920s but modern vibe. That was SO fun!!

also, get your justice.

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STUNNING. I was skeptical at first about the story and where it was going but Roshani Chokshi did a great job keeping me interested through the skepticism and I'm so glad that was the case. This story was a beautiful fairytale mystery with a shadowy mystery looming over the entire thing. Beautiful story.

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I'm not sure this is the haunted house story i was looking for in the moment but I did have fun reading it!!! Also i had no idea spite houses are a thing i'm now obsessed with them

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Food is so important in the way that we connect with our heritage and our families. I love the way that Jessica Parra was able to weave that tender feeling of baking your grandma's rosca de reyes into the energy of this book. Pouring love into a baked good that your family has been making and altering and growing is exactly the kind of love that's poured into Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success. This book is an absolute delight and a satisfying treat for all readers who grew up carrying their cultures in tiny little pieces that refused to let go when we weren't sure who we were.

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Pre reading review: The author told me that this book is meant to honor the sacrifices her immigrant parents made for her. It's about learning to differentiate between the dreams we have for ourselves and the dreams our parents have for us all wrapped up in a delightful baking metaphor. It's a story of honoring your legacies while finding your own path. Let me tell you I'm SOLD.

(I also cried reading this note from her but we don't have to talk about that lmao)

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I ate this up so quickly. I loved how angry it is and I loved all the commentary. It was more gruesome than I thought it would be in the best way. SO good.

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Full of gripping social commentary, Your Driver Is Waiting is far less thriller than it is an internal dialogue of that particular anger you get when the world is so clearly stacked against you. It's a look into how dangerous it can be to help people when you have no idea about their situations and experiences. It's a big reminder that even the best intentions can have dire consequences if you stop listening first.

I found myself completely lost in the commentary, this is a story told in tangents and biting metaphors. Somehow all wrapped together to make a cohesive story. Delightful!

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Going into this book, I really thought it was going to be a story about how we used to share stories when it was harder. I don't know why I thought that but I was so wrong. This story is how we're sharing the truth about our country today. It's sharing the stories that others share and the stories of the people who share them, and I thought that was way more stunning.

I think my false assumptions about this story made it so much better for me because, honestly, I should not have been surprised at all about the nature of this book. The stories of the people sharing history is so important. It was a great example in the power of storytelling.

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