Take a photo of a barcode or cover
ambershelf's Reviews (1.3k)
3.5/5
When Nami's life can't get any worse, she realizes her high school nemesis is planning a hostile takeover of her startup. I enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers romcom featuring business scheming, tech workers, and spicy ramen. Both MCs are a tad unlikeable, especially the MMC's huge ego, but it's also a refreshing angle of a hot/successful/evil-lite Asian finance bro.
-
initial reaction:
A fun enemies to lovers romcom
The FMC has some delusional ideas about corporate America though
When Nami's life can't get any worse, she realizes her high school nemesis is planning a hostile takeover of her startup. I enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers romcom featuring business scheming, tech workers, and spicy ramen. Both MCs are a tad unlikeable, especially the MMC's huge ego, but it's also a refreshing angle of a hot/successful/evil-lite Asian finance bro.
-
initial reaction:
A fun enemies to lovers romcom
The FMC has some delusional ideas about corporate America though
Did I just read the winner of this year's Booker Prize?! HEART follows Nayan Olak, a man who lost his family in a fire 20 years ago. Now, he is running for general secretary in his union. Nayan finds himself inexplicably drawn to a mysterious white woman named Helen, who has returned to town after decades of absence. As Nayan's involvement with Helen deepens and his campaign progresses, his rivalry with Megha, a younger and wealthier woman also running for the same position, spirals out of control. At the heart of the mystery is the connection between Nayan and Helen and all that threatens to spoil his chances of winning.
There is so much I love about HEART: its multilayered examination of equity and equality, the nuanced exploration of solidarity, the lyrical prose of loss and belonging, and so much more. I don't think I've ever read something that made me so uncomfortable yet profoundly illuminating about my own political views.
While HEART is set in the UK, the rivalry between Nayan's "working class vs. the elite" and Megha's "we can't be colorblind within blue-collar workers" reflects much of the class & generational division within left-leaning politics in the US. Even though HEART goes deep into differing political views about building solidarity within the working class, Sahota uses several plot twists to blend politics into the narrative seamlessly, and HEART never reads didactic.
Nayan's question of whether Megha truly wants to build a community or just likes to hear herself talk, "woke" & young white people schooling POC about racism, and cancel culture turn violent are all aspects of how older leftists resist the new waves of activism. Similarly, Megha's experience of constantly being gaslit because of her race/gender/age, and Nayan's complacency within the comfort of white colleagues' approval are why younger liberals feel their voices aren't represented. I can go on and on about the brilliant debates on identity politics, representation, DEI programs, etc.—I was completely blown away by the nuanced exploration of liberal politics and find myself questioning my complicity & complacency.
Another fascinating aspect of HEART is the "mystery" of Nayan and Helen's connections. While this is the main plot-driving force, because of the meandering writing and narrative-within-a-narrative style, the mystery is very slow-moving and isn't really the focus until the last 20%. I don't want to give anything away, but Nayan and Helen's relationship also ties nicely into the aspect of one's sense of belonging when muddled with internalized racism.
HEART is written from Nayan's acquaintance's perspective, making it another intriguing aspect of the novel. While some may think it overly contrive, through the lens of a hyper-aware unreliable narrator, the readers realize that one can't fully know another person's political motivations. Furthermore, I appreciate the distance created by this unique narrative style that enables the readers to critique each character's shortcomings. At the end of the day, no one in HEART is fully good or bad; they're all just lonely individuals trying to survive.
There's so much more I want to say about HEART, but I'll stop here and encourage lovers of lit fic and those seeking a layered story about solidarity to pick this one up. Because I love it so much, I'm not sure if it'll be nominated for Booker (jkjk), but I'd love to see HEART at least on the shortlist, if not outright win it!
There is so much I love about HEART: its multilayered examination of equity and equality, the nuanced exploration of solidarity, the lyrical prose of loss and belonging, and so much more. I don't think I've ever read something that made me so uncomfortable yet profoundly illuminating about my own political views.
While HEART is set in the UK, the rivalry between Nayan's "working class vs. the elite" and Megha's "we can't be colorblind within blue-collar workers" reflects much of the class & generational division within left-leaning politics in the US. Even though HEART goes deep into differing political views about building solidarity within the working class, Sahota uses several plot twists to blend politics into the narrative seamlessly, and HEART never reads didactic.
Nayan's question of whether Megha truly wants to build a community or just likes to hear herself talk, "woke" & young white people schooling POC about racism, and cancel culture turn violent are all aspects of how older leftists resist the new waves of activism. Similarly, Megha's experience of constantly being gaslit because of her race/gender/age, and Nayan's complacency within the comfort of white colleagues' approval are why younger liberals feel their voices aren't represented. I can go on and on about the brilliant debates on identity politics, representation, DEI programs, etc.—I was completely blown away by the nuanced exploration of liberal politics and find myself questioning my complicity & complacency.
Another fascinating aspect of HEART is the "mystery" of Nayan and Helen's connections. While this is the main plot-driving force, because of the meandering writing and narrative-within-a-narrative style, the mystery is very slow-moving and isn't really the focus until the last 20%. I don't want to give anything away, but Nayan and Helen's relationship also ties nicely into the aspect of one's sense of belonging when muddled with internalized racism.
HEART is written from Nayan's acquaintance's perspective, making it another intriguing aspect of the novel. While some may think it overly contrive, through the lens of a hyper-aware unreliable narrator, the readers realize that one can't fully know another person's political motivations. Furthermore, I appreciate the distance created by this unique narrative style that enables the readers to critique each character's shortcomings. At the end of the day, no one in HEART is fully good or bad; they're all just lonely individuals trying to survive.
There's so much more I want to say about HEART, but I'll stop here and encourage lovers of lit fic and those seeking a layered story about solidarity to pick this one up. Because I love it so much, I'm not sure if it'll be nominated for Booker (jkjk), but I'd love to see HEART at least on the shortlist, if not outright win it!
Read NATURAL BEAUTY instead
Merged review:
Read NATURAL BEAUTY instead
Merged review:
Read NATURAL BEAUTY instead
Merged review:
Read NATURAL BEAUTY instead
Merged review:
Read NATURAL BEAUTY instead
ARC gifted by the publisher & prhaudio
A semifamous artist embarks on a cross-country road trip from LA to NY but settles down in a motel 20 minutes after leaving her husband and child.
When most books featuring women over 40 are concerned with their roles as mothers/wives "past their primes," ALL FOURS turns this "mid-life crisis" inside out and explores the transformative power of one's desire. While not a romance in a traditional sense, there's something deeply romantic about July's prose in excavating the private moments that are deeply intimate, sometimes awkward, when a woman refuses to be flattened by her reproductive ability and chooses lust.
ALL FOURS is an intensely horny and contemplative book with a stream-of-consciousness writing style. It initially made me depressed about what the future has for me as a woman (not much but menopause
A semifamous artist embarks on a cross-country road trip from LA to NY but settles down in a motel 20 minutes after leaving her husband and child.
When most books featuring women over 40 are concerned with their roles as mothers/wives "past their primes," ALL FOURS turns this "mid-life crisis" inside out and explores the transformative power of one's desire. While not a romance in a traditional sense, there's something deeply romantic about July's prose in excavating the private moments that are deeply intimate, sometimes awkward, when a woman refuses to be flattened by her reproductive ability and chooses lust.
ALL FOURS is an intensely horny and contemplative book with a stream-of-consciousness writing style. It initially made me depressed about what the future has for me as a woman (not much but menopause
ARC gifted by the publisher
Jin Han, a young photographer at the crossroads of her career, meets the alluring ballerina Lidija Jung at a party. As they become more entangled, both women's lives will never be the same.
EXHIBIT asks the question of when a woman's body is on display (pregnancy, motherhood, gratitude) and when one is asked to hide (sexuality, desire, menstruation, kink). Kwon's poetic prose flows seamlessly between Jin's family stories, her feverish relationship with Lidija, and her disintegrating marriage.
Another fascinating aspect is the juxtaposition between art and the artist. Jin's transformation from an artist who objectifies through lenses to becoming the subject of her own work and Lidija's body/skills as the center of critique gave me a lot to think about how we separate an artist's body from their work.
A love child between THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY (C Pam Zhang) and MEMORY PIECE (Lisa Ko), I devoured EXHIBIT in a day and can't get enough of it!
-
initial thoughts
When is a woman’s body forced on display and when is one asked to hide? This is the theme in EXHIBIT that stands out to me the most. There’s also a religious aspect that I don’t fully grasp.
The writing is very lit fic that reminds me of A LAND OF MILK AND HONEY and the nebulous style has a hint of MEMORY PIECE. I loved how this book made me think about my body, my choices, my fate. Highly recommend to lit fic lovers who enjoy experimental writing styles!
Jin Han, a young photographer at the crossroads of her career, meets the alluring ballerina Lidija Jung at a party. As they become more entangled, both women's lives will never be the same.
EXHIBIT asks the question of when a woman's body is on display (pregnancy, motherhood, gratitude) and when one is asked to hide (sexuality, desire, menstruation, kink). Kwon's poetic prose flows seamlessly between Jin's family stories, her feverish relationship with Lidija, and her disintegrating marriage.
Another fascinating aspect is the juxtaposition between art and the artist. Jin's transformation from an artist who objectifies through lenses to becoming the subject of her own work and Lidija's body/skills as the center of critique gave me a lot to think about how we separate an artist's body from their work.
A love child between THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY (C Pam Zhang) and MEMORY PIECE (Lisa Ko), I devoured EXHIBIT in a day and can't get enough of it!
-
initial thoughts
When is a woman’s body forced on display and when is one asked to hide? This is the theme in EXHIBIT that stands out to me the most. There’s also a religious aspect that I don’t fully grasp.
The writing is very lit fic that reminds me of A LAND OF MILK AND HONEY and the nebulous style has a hint of MEMORY PIECE. I loved how this book made me think about my body, my choices, my fate. Highly recommend to lit fic lovers who enjoy experimental writing styles!
finished copy gifted by the publisher
1950. Florida. 12-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr is sentenced to 6 months at a reformatory for kicking the son of the largest landowner in defense of his older sister, Gloria. Thus begins Robbie's nightmare in the confines of a prison disguised as a school, and Gloria's quest for justice as a mob descends on her.
I loved this page-turner with a perfect balance between character development, fast-paced plots, and fantasy elements with clear rules that never read like info dumping. Inspired by her own family's stories, Due vividly paints the terror of being Black in the Jim Crow South. Fo while the ghosts are mischievous and the KKK evil, it's those sanctioned by law that wreak the most havoc.
-
Omg this was so intense but so good ❤️
1950. Florida. 12-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr is sentenced to 6 months at a reformatory for kicking the son of the largest landowner in defense of his older sister, Gloria. Thus begins Robbie's nightmare in the confines of a prison disguised as a school, and Gloria's quest for justice as a mob descends on her.
I loved this page-turner with a perfect balance between character development, fast-paced plots, and fantasy elements with clear rules that never read like info dumping. Inspired by her own family's stories, Due vividly paints the terror of being Black in the Jim Crow South. Fo while the ghosts are mischievous and the KKK evil, it's those sanctioned by law that wreak the most havoc.
-
Omg this was so intense but so good ❤️
finished copy gifted by the publisher
The daughter of Capuwa, Amara is used to keeping to herself as the villagers turn to the colonizer's religion. But when men start getting attached, and her father becomes the prime suspect, Amara tries to clear his name as nightmares haunt her.
Inspired by Sri Lankan folklore, WITCH is a feverish and gothic tale that discusses extremely dark themes of violence perpetuated by a patriarchal society. The story moves slowly, with an emphasis on constructing a nightmare-ish atmosphere. I wish the folklore were more centered and the pacing more even. Regardless, this dark historical fantasy will keep you up at night!
-
Very dark! Please check TW
Slow moving with very atmospheric writing
The daughter of Capuwa, Amara is used to keeping to herself as the villagers turn to the colonizer's religion. But when men start getting attached, and her father becomes the prime suspect, Amara tries to clear his name as nightmares haunt her.
Inspired by Sri Lankan folklore, WITCH is a feverish and gothic tale that discusses extremely dark themes of violence perpetuated by a patriarchal society. The story moves slowly, with an emphasis on constructing a nightmare-ish atmosphere. I wish the folklore were more centered and the pacing more even. Regardless, this dark historical fantasy will keep you up at night!
-
Very dark! Please check TW
Slow moving with very atmospheric writing
finished copy gifted by the publisher
Noemi Broussard is looking for a fresh start until she learns of her boyfriend's suicide. Coinciding with her uncle Louie's return to the reservation after decades, the duo must decide if there's something menacing within the tribal lands or if they want to keep the secrets buried.
Alternating between the two MCs' timelines, GROUND is a poignant yet painful story that examines alcoholism, mental health, and poverty within Native communities. Medina seamlessly weaves mythology and generational trauma into this powerful tale. I was more invested in Louie's teenage years as he assumed an adult's responsibility and hoped for more mystery elements from Noemi's narrative. While there are imperfections with pacing, the use of psychological burden manifesting as a horror story is ingenious.
Noemi Broussard is looking for a fresh start until she learns of her boyfriend's suicide. Coinciding with her uncle Louie's return to the reservation after decades, the duo must decide if there's something menacing within the tribal lands or if they want to keep the secrets buried.
Alternating between the two MCs' timelines, GROUND is a poignant yet painful story that examines alcoholism, mental health, and poverty within Native communities. Medina seamlessly weaves mythology and generational trauma into this powerful tale. I was more invested in Louie's teenage years as he assumed an adult's responsibility and hoped for more mystery elements from Noemi's narrative. While there are imperfections with pacing, the use of psychological burden manifesting as a horror story is ingenious.