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ambershelf's Reviews (1.3k)
Retired police Tom Kettle lives in solitary overlooking the Irish Sea. But when two former colleagues show up at his door with questions about a decade-old case, he’s pulled into the darkest currents of his past.
TIME is a hauntingly beautiful novel about grief and trauma. Like, a lot of trauma. Maybe too much for my liking
TIME is a hauntingly beautiful novel about grief and trauma. Like, a lot of trauma. Maybe too much for my liking
A young woman moves to a remote country to housekeep for her brother. Soon after, inexplicable events occur as she notices growing suspicions from the townspeople.
Praised for its lyrical prose, OBEDIENCE is an all-vibes-no-plot novel that explores displacement and complicity. The readers are shrouded in a thick fog, trying to figure out what’s happening. And tbh I’m still not sure if I understood the story
Praised for its lyrical prose, OBEDIENCE is an all-vibes-no-plot novel that explores displacement and complicity. The readers are shrouded in a thick fog, trying to figure out what’s happening. And tbh I’m still not sure if I understood the story
BIRD-HEARTS follows Sunday, a neurodivergent single mom and her daughter over a summer. Sunday feels isolated from the world until her new neighbors, a wealthy couple from London, move next door and embroil Sunday's family in the lives of the rich.
The writing took me a while to get into, and it's a stark contrast from the other "extremely literary" books on the longlist. Nonetheless, I adore this story that gives so much depth and dimension to Summer. Herself also neurodivergent, Lloyd-Barlow writes about the loneliness & uncertainty of seeing one's daughter approach adulthood with tenderness.
While the plot is relatively straightforward, and the foreshadowing somewhat takes away the suspense, BIRD-HEARTS is a much-needed narrative that adds to the existing literature full of neurotypical writers appropriating neurodivergent voices poorly. I'd love to see this book on the shortlist and hopefully more own-voice stories on the longlist in the future
The writing took me a while to get into, and it's a stark contrast from the other "extremely literary" books on the longlist. Nonetheless, I adore this story that gives so much depth and dimension to Summer. Herself also neurodivergent, Lloyd-Barlow writes about the loneliness & uncertainty of seeing one's daughter approach adulthood with tenderness.
While the plot is relatively straightforward, and the foreshadowing somewhat takes away the suspense, BIRD-HEARTS is a much-needed narrative that adds to the existing literature full of neurotypical writers appropriating neurodivergent voices poorly. I'd love to see this book on the shortlist and hopefully more own-voice stories on the longlist in the future
Thank you to bibliolifestyle & Harper Perennial for the gifted copy
Al grew up in the small Australian town of Whitlam, populated by Asian refugees and immigrants. Despite her parents escaping the Khmar Genocide, Al and her tight-knit group of friends are determined to chart a new path for themselves as anti-Asian sentiments rise in the late 90s.
EMERALDS is poet Leav's first foray into adult novel, and it shows. I adore the lyrical writing that at times reads like a fever dream. It is no secret that I love poets writing non-poetry because of how "playful" they are with words, and EMERALDS is no different.
I am especially mesmerized by how Leav weaves a compelling tale between various Asian-Australian students, portraying their internal conflicts that surpass the common tropes between white people vs. POC, but rather within the Asian community itself. Leav asks the readers to consider our complicity in assimilation & perpetrating the model minority myth while ensuring our safety in the face of racism.
While this story is labeled as adult, I find the first half to be more YA, with school dramas surrounding friendships & relationships, reminiscent of KING OF THE ARMADILLOS (Wendy Chin-Tanner). At times, the conversations between the teenagers seem too philosophical to be realistic, but it could just be me being an unaware nerd in high school
Al grew up in the small Australian town of Whitlam, populated by Asian refugees and immigrants. Despite her parents escaping the Khmar Genocide, Al and her tight-knit group of friends are determined to chart a new path for themselves as anti-Asian sentiments rise in the late 90s.
EMERALDS is poet Leav's first foray into adult novel, and it shows. I adore the lyrical writing that at times reads like a fever dream. It is no secret that I love poets writing non-poetry because of how "playful" they are with words, and EMERALDS is no different.
I am especially mesmerized by how Leav weaves a compelling tale between various Asian-Australian students, portraying their internal conflicts that surpass the common tropes between white people vs. POC, but rather within the Asian community itself. Leav asks the readers to consider our complicity in assimilation & perpetrating the model minority myth while ensuring our safety in the face of racism.
While this story is labeled as adult, I find the first half to be more YA, with school dramas surrounding friendships & relationships, reminiscent of KING OF THE ARMADILLOS (Wendy Chin-Tanner). At times, the conversations between the teenagers seem too philosophical to be realistic, but it could just be me being an unaware nerd in high school
After her younger sister's tragic death 8 years ago, Sage Flores has been running away—from her family, her passion, and her "gifts." But when she returns to her hometown, she finds the least-expected person waiting for her: Tenessee Reyes, aka the boy who broke her heart in high school.
WITCH is an entertaining yet compelling read that covers fractured family, complex sisterhood, and second-chance(ish) romance with a hint of magical realism. While some miscommunication tropes could be a no-go for readers, I appreciate how Gilliland explores what it takes to stitch a broken family back together. The twists and turns are another highlight of WITCH, and I recommend this heartwarming story to those looking for a quick and light read.
WITCH is an entertaining yet compelling read that covers fractured family, complex sisterhood, and second-chance(ish) romance with a hint of magical realism. While some miscommunication tropes could be a no-go for readers, I appreciate how Gilliland explores what it takes to stitch a broken family back together. The twists and turns are another highlight of WITCH, and I recommend this heartwarming story to those looking for a quick and light read.
Thank you to Berkley for the gifted copy
On the brink of eviction, down-on-her-luck artist Cassie Greenberg finds a beautiful apartment on Craiglist charging only $200/month. Out of desperation, Cassie signs on and discovers her roommate, Frederick J. Fitzwilliam, is an attractive man who seems a bit out of touch. What could go wrong?
ROOMMATE is a cute little story between a kind-hearted woman and a somewhat clueless vampire. I really enjoyed the open communication between Cassie and Frederick, and how the plot doesn't rely on miscommunications for the third act. The spark between the two MCs may read a bit forced, but I appreciate this refreshing read between all the tear-jerkers & grief-laden books I've been reading lately (or maybe all the time
On the brink of eviction, down-on-her-luck artist Cassie Greenberg finds a beautiful apartment on Craiglist charging only $200/month. Out of desperation, Cassie signs on and discovers her roommate, Frederick J. Fitzwilliam, is an attractive man who seems a bit out of touch. What could go wrong?
ROOMMATE is a cute little story between a kind-hearted woman and a somewhat clueless vampire. I really enjoyed the open communication between Cassie and Frederick, and how the plot doesn't rely on miscommunications for the third act. The spark between the two MCs may read a bit forced, but I appreciate this refreshing read between all the tear-jerkers & grief-laden books I've been reading lately (or maybe all the time
Valerie is quiet, studious, and thin. Unbeknownst to everyone, she's suffered from bulimia for years. When a tragedy strikes, Val must determine her priorities to move on. This beautiful story hits a cord with me in its examination of "guai" (乖), a philosophy that children should obey their parents to the point of surrendering their bodies for scrutiny. HUNGRY is a beautiful & essential tale of learning to love & accept ourselves, setting boundaries, and finding happiness within.
Translated from Arabic & based on Egyptian folklore, the story follows three characters in a world where wishes are for sale. I love this imaginative and original story exploring one's deepest desire and grappling with what we're willing to sacrifice to achieve it. Mohamed's stunning artwork and gorgeous world-building breathed life into the stories & characters, and I could not put down this GN from start to end.
Newly-out trans artist's assistant Sammie is invited to an old friend's bachelor weekend as the "best man," even though they haven't identified as a man for over a year. I love this horror/satire story that explores what it's like to be a transfemme person in a man's world, the friends one loses/keeps during the transition, and the cult-like culture around toxic masculinity.