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ambershelf's Reviews (1.3k)
Thank you to partner @bibliolifestyle & Harper Via for the gifted copy & Libro.fm for the ALC
Eli wakes up in his cramped Bulgarian apartment looking for his wife, Elizabeth, only to realize he now inhabits her body. As Eli embarks on a journey across Europe and the US to search for his own body & his missing wife, he begins to wonder how this transformation will affect their marriage.
Alternating between Eli's current POV & Elizabeth's past, PEOPLE COLLIDE is a weird, extremely out-there, but most importantly, absorbing read. I was so invested in both MC's journeys I finished the audiobook in one sitting! I love how this original story explores one's sexuality & gender identity, and how that may evolve while we're in a relationship.
PEOPLE COLLIDE will be a book that readers with different lived experiences will have wildly different takeaways. As a cis, straight reader, I loved McElroy's descriptions of how Eli experiences the world in Elizabeth's body with all its misogyny. I also appreciate how this novel makes me wonder about the separation of my own identity from my husband's. What was I like before we met? Who am I without him?
I initially wanted the book to include Elizabeth's POV, but after reading the PEN Ten Interview with McElroy, I understood their decision to construct PEOPLE COLLIDE this way. It's so interesting (& maybe a bit sad?) to realize how the most intimate person we're with in life will never fully understand us and our own insecurities about feeling vulnerable in a relationship.
I only wish PEOPLE COLLIDE were longer because I could read this story forever! McElroy explores so many fascinating concepts about our identity in a relationship that I'd love to revisit as my own marriage progresses!
Eli wakes up in his cramped Bulgarian apartment looking for his wife, Elizabeth, only to realize he now inhabits her body. As Eli embarks on a journey across Europe and the US to search for his own body & his missing wife, he begins to wonder how this transformation will affect their marriage.
Alternating between Eli's current POV & Elizabeth's past, PEOPLE COLLIDE is a weird, extremely out-there, but most importantly, absorbing read. I was so invested in both MC's journeys I finished the audiobook in one sitting! I love how this original story explores one's sexuality & gender identity, and how that may evolve while we're in a relationship.
PEOPLE COLLIDE will be a book that readers with different lived experiences will have wildly different takeaways. As a cis, straight reader, I loved McElroy's descriptions of how Eli experiences the world in Elizabeth's body with all its misogyny. I also appreciate how this novel makes me wonder about the separation of my own identity from my husband's. What was I like before we met? Who am I without him?
I initially wanted the book to include Elizabeth's POV, but after reading the PEN Ten Interview with McElroy, I understood their decision to construct PEOPLE COLLIDE this way. It's so interesting (& maybe a bit sad?) to realize how the most intimate person we're with in life will never fully understand us and our own insecurities about feeling vulnerable in a relationship.
I only wish PEOPLE COLLIDE were longer because I could read this story forever! McElroy explores so many fascinating concepts about our identity in a relationship that I'd love to revisit as my own marriage progresses!
Thank you to TLC book tours for the gifted copy
A billionaire widow in a small Midwest town announces a lottery: give your DNA for a chance to win multimillion dollars. Is it a purely philanthropic gesture, or is it connected to something more sinister? At the heart of the controversy are three women: a divorced single mom returning to her hometown for a strange job, a controversial state senator running for reelection, and a divorce attorney coping with her own crumbling marriage and overbearing mother.
While there is a "DNA lottery," there isn't much, if any, science jargon in the story. Readers worried about this novel turning into science fiction can be rest assured. I enjoyed reading a faster-paced mystery/thriller between all the award longlist readings. As such, FORTUNE provided an entertaining experience.
However, the story has many moving pieces, and I feel the uneven pacing didn't do justice to the cleverly designed twists and turns. The story slugged quite a bit in the middle and didn't really pick up until the last 20%. Furthermore, the final 10 pages revealed so much without tying up all the loose ends, leaving me wanting more closure.
Overall, FORTUNE is a solid debut with some ingenious ideas. It failed to live up to its full potential, perhaps due to the lack of editing and too many storylines
A billionaire widow in a small Midwest town announces a lottery: give your DNA for a chance to win multimillion dollars. Is it a purely philanthropic gesture, or is it connected to something more sinister? At the heart of the controversy are three women: a divorced single mom returning to her hometown for a strange job, a controversial state senator running for reelection, and a divorce attorney coping with her own crumbling marriage and overbearing mother.
While there is a "DNA lottery," there isn't much, if any, science jargon in the story. Readers worried about this novel turning into science fiction can be rest assured. I enjoyed reading a faster-paced mystery/thriller between all the award longlist readings. As such, FORTUNE provided an entertaining experience.
However, the story has many moving pieces, and I feel the uneven pacing didn't do justice to the cleverly designed twists and turns. The story slugged quite a bit in the middle and didn't really pick up until the last 20%. Furthermore, the final 10 pages revealed so much without tying up all the loose ends, leaving me wanting more closure.
Overall, FORTUNE is a solid debut with some ingenious ideas. It failed to live up to its full potential, perhaps due to the lack of editing and too many storylines
Thank you to TLC Book Tours & Simon & Schuster for the gifted ARC
Detailing her childhood growing up in a rigid Rastafarian household ruled by her father's strict patriarchal views, Sinclair writes about her journey to finding her own voice as a woman and poet in this intimate and profound memoir.
But more than a memoir, BABYLON is a journey through the corridors of family, faith, and the complexities of identity. This book has quickly become one of my favorite memoirs of the year, offering a deeply personal and emotionally charged narrative that resonates with readers on various levels.
Through her narrative, Sinclair delves into the history of Rastafarianism, shedding light on the government's persecution of the religion. The systemic targeting of Rastas created a decentralized and contained practice, where each family could vary widely in their interpretation of the faith. This insight provides the backdrop of Sinclair's upbringing and how Rasta, which started as a movement to reclaim Black power & unite Black people, became another shackle for Black girls and women due to the undertone of misogyny.
While the narrative takes a dark turn at times, delving into graphic accounts of child abuse and suicidal thoughts, Sinclair writes about her father with tenderness and compassion. Amidst these painful moments, the theme of forgiveness shines through, reminding the readers of the resilience of the human spirit and the life-saving effects of one's love for literature.
As I read, I often found myself holding my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. The tension and emotional weight of the narrative kept me engrossed until the very end. The last 50 pages, in particular, become a poignant cry fest, and readers should prepare themselves emotionally and keep tissues & water handy. I was definitely dehydrated from crying after reading BABYLON
Detailing her childhood growing up in a rigid Rastafarian household ruled by her father's strict patriarchal views, Sinclair writes about her journey to finding her own voice as a woman and poet in this intimate and profound memoir.
But more than a memoir, BABYLON is a journey through the corridors of family, faith, and the complexities of identity. This book has quickly become one of my favorite memoirs of the year, offering a deeply personal and emotionally charged narrative that resonates with readers on various levels.
Through her narrative, Sinclair delves into the history of Rastafarianism, shedding light on the government's persecution of the religion. The systemic targeting of Rastas created a decentralized and contained practice, where each family could vary widely in their interpretation of the faith. This insight provides the backdrop of Sinclair's upbringing and how Rasta, which started as a movement to reclaim Black power & unite Black people, became another shackle for Black girls and women due to the undertone of misogyny.
While the narrative takes a dark turn at times, delving into graphic accounts of child abuse and suicidal thoughts, Sinclair writes about her father with tenderness and compassion. Amidst these painful moments, the theme of forgiveness shines through, reminding the readers of the resilience of the human spirit and the life-saving effects of one's love for literature.
As I read, I often found myself holding my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. The tension and emotional weight of the narrative kept me engrossed until the very end. The last 50 pages, in particular, become a poignant cry fest, and readers should prepare themselves emotionally and keep tissues & water handy. I was definitely dehydrated from crying after reading BABYLON
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy
Just days after her young & handsome husband, Ian, died in a car accident, Ellie Huang discovers he had a mistress. Acting on an impulse, Ellie travels to a luxury French hotel with her childhood friend, where they meet a mysterious & wealthy couple.
FOREVER covers topics ranging from the experiences of Asian women in white-dominant spaces, complex mother-daughter relationships, and the ever-evolving dynamics of female friendships. I enjoyed the focus on Ellie's friendship with her BFF and their (somewhat toxic) relationships with the couple they met on vacation. On the other hand, the mother-daughter relationships and Asian women x white men tropes needed more development and nuance. Overall, FOREVER is a slower-paced and contemplative debut
Just days after her young & handsome husband, Ian, died in a car accident, Ellie Huang discovers he had a mistress. Acting on an impulse, Ellie travels to a luxury French hotel with her childhood friend, where they meet a mysterious & wealthy couple.
FOREVER covers topics ranging from the experiences of Asian women in white-dominant spaces, complex mother-daughter relationships, and the ever-evolving dynamics of female friendships. I enjoyed the focus on Ellie's friendship with her BFF and their (somewhat toxic) relationships with the couple they met on vacation. On the other hand, the mother-daughter relationships and Asian women x white men tropes needed more development and nuance. Overall, FOREVER is a slower-paced and contemplative debut
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy
Jane is a struggling mid-list writer who feels trapped in her marriage until she sees her estranged BFF Thalia from grad school on the NYT bestseller list. Jane decides to travel to NYC on a whim to reconnect with Thalia, especially after losing all contact for nearly a decade.
I enjoyed reading about the publishing industry & Jane's musings on being mixed race, paying off a crippling mortgage in the Bay Area, and SF's obsession with surface-level "diversity" culture. Having read Sutanto's cozy mystery, I find YET somewhat predictable and lacks the oomph. There could be a sequel based on the ending, and it'll be interesting to see how YET plays out.
Jane is a struggling mid-list writer who feels trapped in her marriage until she sees her estranged BFF Thalia from grad school on the NYT bestseller list. Jane decides to travel to NYC on a whim to reconnect with Thalia, especially after losing all contact for nearly a decade.
I enjoyed reading about the publishing industry & Jane's musings on being mixed race, paying off a crippling mortgage in the Bay Area, and SF's obsession with surface-level "diversity" culture. Having read Sutanto's cozy mystery, I find YET somewhat predictable and lacks the oomph. There could be a sequel based on the ending, and it'll be interesting to see how YET plays out.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy
Set in the 1940s in Berkeley, California, Detective Al Sullivan is tasked with investigating the murder of a presidential candidate in a swanky hotel. Suspects range from three young & wealthy women who suffered a family tragedy a decade ago in the same hotel and China's First Lady Madame Chiang Kai-Shek.
GATE mentions lots of CA's history; I loved learning about these aspects, even though it breaks the flow of the story and, frankly, should've been edited out
Set in the 1940s in Berkeley, California, Detective Al Sullivan is tasked with investigating the murder of a presidential candidate in a swanky hotel. Suspects range from three young & wealthy women who suffered a family tragedy a decade ago in the same hotel and China's First Lady Madame Chiang Kai-Shek.
GATE mentions lots of CA's history; I loved learning about these aspects, even though it breaks the flow of the story and, frankly, should've been edited out
