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ambershelf's Reviews (1.3k)
2.5/5
Gifted by the publisher
The search for a missing boy entwines the lives of 2 desperate women. I enjoyed this fast-paced suspense with unexpected twists. My favorite parts are the complex sisterhood element and a dog named Mochi (the best coincidence when we have a Mochi too). I wish there were more dimensions to each character, especially the "villain" vs. "hero" trope is a bit too straightforward, and the story would've been even more compelling with another layer of plot complexity.
Gifted by the publisher
The search for a missing boy entwines the lives of 2 desperate women. I enjoyed this fast-paced suspense with unexpected twists. My favorite parts are the complex sisterhood element and a dog named Mochi (the best coincidence when we have a Mochi too). I wish there were more dimensions to each character, especially the "villain" vs. "hero" trope is a bit too straightforward, and the story would've been even more compelling with another layer of plot complexity.
ARC gifted by the publisher
When Hero Tojosoa arrives in Prague to attend a bachelorette weekend hosted by her estranged friend Sofie, she isn't aware of the city's penchant for playing tricks on the unsuspecting. As Hero travels through Prague with a book, she notices the text changes depending on who's reading it to reveal fictional Praguers past and present.
Written from the perspective of a conscious & mischievous city, AXE is a wild and unique examination of blurred lines between reality and fiction, factual history and our memories. Written in a stream-of-consciousness style, AXE took me a while to get into, but I find myself transfixed in this outlandish story as Hero faces some of the most absurd experiences on her trip.
While I only understood 10% of the story, I loved her brilliant examination of readers as "unreliable narrators." As a reader's life evolves, their understanding of a story also changes. How do we tell apart a tale's true meaning vs a reader's interpretation? At its core, AXE reflects how the permutations of our lives influence our shared history.
When Hero Tojosoa arrives in Prague to attend a bachelorette weekend hosted by her estranged friend Sofie, she isn't aware of the city's penchant for playing tricks on the unsuspecting. As Hero travels through Prague with a book, she notices the text changes depending on who's reading it to reveal fictional Praguers past and present.
Written from the perspective of a conscious & mischievous city, AXE is a wild and unique examination of blurred lines between reality and fiction, factual history and our memories. Written in a stream-of-consciousness style, AXE took me a while to get into, but I find myself transfixed in this outlandish story as Hero faces some of the most absurd experiences on her trip.
While I only understood 10% of the story, I loved her brilliant examination of readers as "unreliable narrators." As a reader's life evolves, their understanding of a story also changes. How do we tell apart a tale's true meaning vs a reader's interpretation? At its core, AXE reflects how the permutations of our lives influence our shared history.
ARC gifted by the publisher
A hustler from a family of hustlers, Javier Perez learns from an early age how to play the perfect victim to his advantage—murdered drug dealer dad, single cash-strapped mom, best friend serving time for gang activity. As Javi gets closer to his dream of becoming a famous writer, he continues to walk the line of bending the truth. But when does it become a lie?
VICTIM is an ingenious fiction that examines click-bait media, the responsibility & complicity of readers pigeonholing writers of color for trauma porn, the problems behind "gamifying" diversity programs, and so many other thought-provoking themes perfect for book club discussions.
I particularly loved the inclusion of Latinx characters across class to show the hypocrisy of affluent POCs who have the luxury of philosophical debates while others are just trying to survive and have no time for activism. The analysis on whether one should use their diversity card to their advantage is another interesting angle that will stimulate lots of thoughts.
I don't want to give too much away, but VICTIM is retrospectively written from Javi's POV as a "memoir." I find the whole concept so meta, considering that the different articles Javi has written over his career are hyperfocused on generating sympathy for his own advancement. By the end of the story, I can't help but wonder who VICTIM is truly written for and question whether my empathy for Javi results from narrative manipulation.
A hustler from a family of hustlers, Javier Perez learns from an early age how to play the perfect victim to his advantage—murdered drug dealer dad, single cash-strapped mom, best friend serving time for gang activity. As Javi gets closer to his dream of becoming a famous writer, he continues to walk the line of bending the truth. But when does it become a lie?
VICTIM is an ingenious fiction that examines click-bait media, the responsibility & complicity of readers pigeonholing writers of color for trauma porn, the problems behind "gamifying" diversity programs, and so many other thought-provoking themes perfect for book club discussions.
I particularly loved the inclusion of Latinx characters across class to show the hypocrisy of affluent POCs who have the luxury of philosophical debates while others are just trying to survive and have no time for activism. The analysis on whether one should use their diversity card to their advantage is another interesting angle that will stimulate lots of thoughts.
I don't want to give too much away, but VICTIM is retrospectively written from Javi's POV as a "memoir." I find the whole concept so meta, considering that the different articles Javi has written over his career are hyperfocused on generating sympathy for his own advancement. By the end of the story, I can't help but wonder who VICTIM is truly written for and question whether my empathy for Javi results from narrative manipulation.
Thanks to the publisher for the gifted ALC & ARC
1985. A rising artist, Anita de Monte, is found dead in New York City under suspicious circumstances. By 1998, her name has been largely forgotten. But when Raquel, a third-year art history student preparing for her thesis, stumbles upon Anita's story, she questions the dynamics of her relationship that eerily mirrors the late artist's.
Following two Latinx women in the art & academia across a decade, González brilliantly explores the psychological burden of Brown women surviving in white-dominant spaces and their conscious/unconscious need for white validation.
The dual timeline works well in juxtaposing Anita & Raquel's struggles and exposes how little has changed for women of color to move through institutions built to uphold white supremacy. From microaggressions and sexism to the false belief of meritocracy, my heart especially aches for all that Raquel has to endure.
While some chapters are a little on the nose, I love the unexpected twist that portrays Anita as the ultimate unhinged woman. The sharp, sarcastic writing keeps me engaged and rooting for Anita to exact her revenge. LAST reminds me of DISORIENTATION (Elaine Hsieh Chou), YELLOWFACE (R.F. Kuang), and THE TREES (Percival Everett), and I loved every moment of it.
The full-cast audiobook is phenomenal and captures each character's emotions & personalities perfectly. Reading LAST is noticing the simmering rage within me threatening to boil over; I laughed, I raged, and I think you will too.
1985. A rising artist, Anita de Monte, is found dead in New York City under suspicious circumstances. By 1998, her name has been largely forgotten. But when Raquel, a third-year art history student preparing for her thesis, stumbles upon Anita's story, she questions the dynamics of her relationship that eerily mirrors the late artist's.
Following two Latinx women in the art & academia across a decade, González brilliantly explores the psychological burden of Brown women surviving in white-dominant spaces and their conscious/unconscious need for white validation.
The dual timeline works well in juxtaposing Anita & Raquel's struggles and exposes how little has changed for women of color to move through institutions built to uphold white supremacy. From microaggressions and sexism to the false belief of meritocracy, my heart especially aches for all that Raquel has to endure.
While some chapters are a little on the nose, I love the unexpected twist that portrays Anita as the ultimate unhinged woman. The sharp, sarcastic writing keeps me engaged and rooting for Anita to exact her revenge. LAST reminds me of DISORIENTATION (Elaine Hsieh Chou), YELLOWFACE (R.F. Kuang), and THE TREES (Percival Everett), and I loved every moment of it.
The full-cast audiobook is phenomenal and captures each character's emotions & personalities perfectly. Reading LAST is noticing the simmering rage within me threatening to boil over; I laughed, I raged, and I think you will too.
gifted by the publisher
Two years after tragically losing her daughter, Hon finally returns home to take care of her aging father. Soon, she discovers the truth of her dad's hidden past and reconstructs her own family history.
SEE pulls at my heartstrings with the theme of caring for an aging dad. I relished the moments Hon spent with her father and her conversations with friends & family to further understand his sacrifice. The setting of post-war Korea also gives context to a complex & flawed character, which I appreciate learning about. The narrative is sometimes a bit distant, but reading SEE still made me miss my dad dearly.
Two years after tragically losing her daughter, Hon finally returns home to take care of her aging father. Soon, she discovers the truth of her dad's hidden past and reconstructs her own family history.
SEE pulls at my heartstrings with the theme of caring for an aging dad. I relished the moments Hon spent with her father and her conversations with friends & family to further understand his sacrifice. The setting of post-war Korea also gives context to a complex & flawed character, which I appreciate learning about. The narrative is sometimes a bit distant, but reading SEE still made me miss my dad dearly.
gifted by the publisher
Set in a working-class neighborhood of the Canary Islands, our 10yo narrator is consumed by thoughts of her best friend Isora. As the duo grow closer, she finds her submissiveness veers into a painful sexual awakening.
Lyrical prose tinged with innocence and humor, DOGS is a unique examination of the blurred lines between friendship and romantic love, intimacy and obsession. López cleverly captures the voices of teenagers, their transformation into "adulthood," and evolving identities of queerness through a messy female friendship.
Set in a working-class neighborhood of the Canary Islands, our 10yo narrator is consumed by thoughts of her best friend Isora. As the duo grow closer, she finds her submissiveness veers into a painful sexual awakening.
Lyrical prose tinged with innocence and humor, DOGS is a unique examination of the blurred lines between friendship and romantic love, intimacy and obsession. López cleverly captures the voices of teenagers, their transformation into "adulthood," and evolving identities of queerness through a messy female friendship.
gifted by the publisher
Valeria Cossati never suspected how unhappy she had become until she began writing in a notebook to scrutinize her feelings. Valeria soon realizes that her individuality is stifled by her devotion to her husband & children.
Who would've thought a diary reflecting on one's domesticity could be so gripping and profound? FORBIDDEN brilliantly explores a woman's second coming-of-age, who realizes she's evolved to want different things than her husband and notices her diminishing individuality through the sacrifices she made to those around her.
Valeria Cossati never suspected how unhappy she had become until she began writing in a notebook to scrutinize her feelings. Valeria soon realizes that her individuality is stifled by her devotion to her husband & children.
Who would've thought a diary reflecting on one's domesticity could be so gripping and profound? FORBIDDEN brilliantly explores a woman's second coming-of-age, who realizes she's evolved to want different things than her husband and notices her diminishing individuality through the sacrifices she made to those around her.
I like the historical backdrop, the brotherhood, and the examination of toxic masculinity that renders one blind to the possibility of love.
This could’ve been a 200 page book without all the explicit sex scenes. And the sex scenes aren’t even that good
This could’ve been a 200 page book without all the explicit sex scenes. And the sex scenes aren’t even that good
