ambershelf's reviews
1295 reviews

Between helping at her family's inn and teaching painting, Elizabeth Wu has put her dream of becoming an artist on the back burner. But she'll be able to jump-start her career as soon as the arts festival she's organizing comes to fruition. If only her best friend Graham Lewis isn't acting so weird and distant lately.

MULBERRY STREET is a cute, heartfelt friends-to-lovers story set in a small town. It has all the ingredients of a light-hearted romance with plenty of tension and twists: complicated family dynamics, small-town drama, long-held grudges, and generational divides. I adore the open communication between Elizabeth and Graham as they figure out their relationship, even though E's tardiness definitely rubs me the wrong way hahaha. For fans of heartwarming romance with very light drama, MULBERRY STREET is the perfect next read!

Thank you to Forever Publishing free gifted copy.

Eva Santos Moon is an up-and-coming Chicana artist learning the spiritual practices of brujería and curanderisma. But after her beloved husband is arrested for the murder of a friend, she feels her family falling apart. Eva doesn't know who to trust, as the death of a childhood friend in a similar fashion has left her with occasional blackouts as an adult. Is Eva involved in both murders? Why can't she remember?

RIVER WOMAN is a psychological thriller with a bit of a horror aspect but not super scary. Written from Eva's perspective, it has some unreliable narrator vibe because of her blackouts and Eve's constant mistrust of herself, which keeps me on my toes. I adore the magick, witchy atmosphere, and cultural commentary woven into the story.

I started RIVER WOMAN disliking Eva because she uses A LOT OF b* c* words to describe other women that sound unnecessary. But Givhan does an excellent job towards the end in addressing how women of color are constantly criticized & questioned to the point that Eva doesn't even believe in her own innocence, not to mention other women in her community and those closest to her, and it helps put Eva's very questionable actions into more context.

RIVER WOMAN is an unputdownable read that transcends the thriller genre and explores the power women of color always possess in protecting themselves and their families.

As a young wife, Meilin's bright future is cut short as the Japanese army approaches in 1938 in China. Forced to flee with her 4-year-old son, Renshu, and her brother-in-law's family, Meilin travels through a ravaged country seeking refuge. Traversing 70 years, PEACH BLOSSOM SPRING follows three generations of the Dao family from living in China during the Japanese invasion, escaping to Taiwan as communism took over, and immigrating to America. Beautifully written with heartbreaking yet hopeful prose, PEACH BLOSSOM SPRING is a bold debut exploring modern Chinese and Taiwanese history and the power of storytelling.

I love everything about PEACH BLOSSOM SPRING; from the chronological narrative to the focus on the Dao family during WW2, Fu explores the rich & complex history and masterfully weaves together the threads of family & identity.

The theme of fractured families and unexplained pasts also resonated deeply with me. While I understand the curiosity to learn the stories of one's ancestors, my heart aches for the countless lives lost during the Japanese invasion of China and the KMT's martial law rule in Taiwan. I adore the research that went into writing this book, especially the nuance between Benshengren (本省人) and Waishengren (外省人), and the intricacies of why families don't talk about their pasts for fear of political prosecution. PEACH BLOSSOM SPRING is a poignant reminder that our histories and complex and often filled with gaps.

As someone who grew up in Taipei and attended NTU, I relish the section where Meilin and Renshu explore the city and Renshu's undergrad days. There is something so special about reading a book set in a place I know well, and I find myself transported back to my time in Taipei & NTU while reading.

PEACH BLOSSOM SPRING is a gorgeous debut that explores family, identity, and belonging. It is a must-read for anyone interested in modern Chinese/Taiwanese history and family secrets. It is a book that will stay with me after I've finished reading it.

It is 1969, during the height of the Vietnam War. Two young Vietnamese sisters are desperate to pay off their parent's debts. They leave their rural village and become "bar girls" in Sài Gòn, entertaining American GIs in return for money.

It is 2016, and an orphan of a Black American soldier & an unknown Vietnamese mother is searching for a way to immigrate to America with his family. His visa application is denied, and is told he needs proof that his dad is American.

At the same time, an American Vietnam vet lands in Sài Gòn with his wife, hoping to heal from his PTSD. In actuality, he secretly looks for the Vietnamese woman and baby he left behind all those years ago.

DUST CHILD is a beautifully written story that shatters my heart into a million pieces. Told from alternating POVs across time, the novel explores the devastating effects of war, not just on American soldiers but, most importantly, the Vietnamese people caught in the crossfire. Nguyễn delves deep into the complexities of war and its lasting impacts, showing how it affects every aspect of life, from politics to personal relationships.

One of the most potent aspects of DUST CHILD is how it shines a light on the Vietnamese people forced to choose sides during the war and those unable to leave after the war. These are important stories often overlooked, but they are just as important as those of the American soldiers.

DUST CHILD is a powerful and beautiful novel that explores the aftermath of the Vietnam War from unique and insightful perspectives. The immersive writing, multiple POVs, and unexpected plots make it a must-read for everyone.

Thank you to Algonquin Books for the eARC.

HIJAB BUTCH BLUES is a stunning and powerful memoir chronicling Lamya's journey as a queer Muslim growing up in the Middle East and living in America. From realizing she's gay at 14, immigrating to the US, to struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, Lamya's story is both heartbreaking and inspiring.

One of the most poignant aspects of the memoir is Lamya's discussion of racism & colorism and how it affected her growing up. As a brown-skinned woman who wears a hijab, she was often viewed as a threat and struggled with hating herself and her skin color. Her experiences are heartwrenching, and I feel so much empathy for her experience.

One of the most significant themes of the memoir is how religion helped Lamya gain strength and power. The discussions of her faith are a refreshing change from the often-negative portrayals of Muslims in the media. The memoir is a reminder that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to religion and that it can be a source of strength and comfort for people from all walks of life.

Another fascinating aspect of the memoir is Lamya's discussion of gender and religion. She explores gender nonconformity and how it relates to her faith & finding her God. Her interpretations of the Quran and her questions about why these stories are interpreted a certain way are thought-provoking and engaging.

Finally, the memoir also delves into the harmful effects of people telling others how to be "authentically" gay or queer. Lamya recounts instances of people giving her unsolicited advice on transitioning or coming out to her parents. These moments are a reminder that the LGBTQIA+ community is not a monolith and that people's experiences & identities are unique.

HIJAB BUTCH BLUES is not chronological, and I had to pay extra attention when listening to the audiobook. But Lamya does a fantastic job blending the biography and essays. It feels natural and seamless to shift from her exploration of gender and identity to the stories in the Quran.

HIJAB BUTCH BLUES is a poignant and powerful memoir that sheds light on the experiences of a queer Muslim in America. It's an essential own-voice work that challenges stereotypes and provides a much-needed perspective on religion, identity, and community.

After 13-year-old Ruthy Ramirez disappeared in high school, the Ramirez women have been orbiting around absence. A decade later, when the oldest sister Jessica spots a woman on a raunchy reality TV show, she rushes to tell her younger sister Nina. Could this woman called Ruby, with red hair and a beauty mark under her left eye, be their long-lost sister?

While RUTHY RAMIREZ touches on missing Black and brown women/girls, it focuses on the Ramirez family and the unbreakable bonds between mothers and sisters. It balances between heavy topics of racism & poverty and humorous portrayals of the everyday lives of Puerto Rican women. Alternating between the different Ramirez women, I enjoy how each woman's personality shines through.

Thank you to Grand Central Pub and NetGalley for the eARC.

After Geeta's husband mysteriously disappeared five years ago, the rumor is that she killed him. Known as a "self-made" widow, no one in the remote village messes with her. But when other married women in the town ask Geeta for her "expertise," she finds her reputation becoming a double-edged sword. Should she come clean about her innocence? Should she help other women get rid of their abusive husbands?

BANDIT QUEENS is a humorous satire that blends the exploration of sexism and misogynism with brilliant storytelling. I adore the balance between serious topics and funny moments, and Shroff's use of humor in exploring patriarchy and caste in modern India cracks me up. I particularly love how imperfect the women are in BANDIT QUEENS; I was rooting for all of them when the women fight for their rights, scheme to free themselves from the garbage men in their lives, and argue with one another.

As a swimmer, Ren Yu's daily life starts and ends with the pool. Even though she's constantly winning trophies, Ren can't shake the feeling of loneliness. If she swims faster and better, her coach will be kind to her, she'll be scouted and go to Harvard, and her parents will be proud of her. But maybe the road to freedom is much more straightforward; Ren just has to find a way to escape the confines of human concerns, leave the land, shed her legs, and become a mermaid, no matter the pain.

CHLORINE is a debut that is unlike any coming-of-age story I've read. Besides teenage angst, Song builds a fascinating narrative from Ren's POV and explores growing up as Asian American, the pain of assimilation, and the power imbalance between a coach and an athlete. Most of the book has an eerie undertone that isn't very scary, with only one or two scenes toward the end that has some pretty extreme body horror imo