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anabel_unker's Reviews (1.16k)
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity.*
In this beautiful graphic novel, author Wendy Xu explores trauma, forgiveness, and the question of what makes a human, human. Set in a world inspired by retro-futurism, Clementine has just moved to the Mars Colony for a new job as an Artificial Intelligence (AI) repair person in a clinic run by the famed Dr. Marcella Lin. A friendship begins to blossom between Clem and Dr. Lin's AI assistant, a beautiful humanoid model named Kye-- and it is up to Clem to help Kye reach his full potential.
This book is, of course, stunning. The art is lovely, and the setting is richly developed and lush. It was so refreshing to read something with a more hopeful look towards humanities future (albeit FAR into humanities future) and the debate on AI consciousness mirrors the debates we're having even today. The romance felt rushed and I wish it had been explored a little further, but I also think it opens the door for future explorations by the author. However, the story itself is wonderful, the plot is appropriately paced and engaging-- and it's easy to root for Clem and Kye!
In this beautiful graphic novel, author Wendy Xu explores trauma, forgiveness, and the question of what makes a human, human. Set in a world inspired by retro-futurism, Clementine has just moved to the Mars Colony for a new job as an Artificial Intelligence (AI) repair person in a clinic run by the famed Dr. Marcella Lin. A friendship begins to blossom between Clem and Dr. Lin's AI assistant, a beautiful humanoid model named Kye-- and it is up to Clem to help Kye reach his full potential.
This book is, of course, stunning. The art is lovely, and the setting is richly developed and lush. It was so refreshing to read something with a more hopeful look towards humanities future (albeit FAR into humanities future) and the debate on AI consciousness mirrors the debates we're having even today. The romance felt rushed and I wish it had been explored a little further, but I also think it opens the door for future explorations by the author. However, the story itself is wonderful, the plot is appropriately paced and engaging-- and it's easy to root for Clem and Kye!
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity.*
In a modern day Hatfields and McCoys, the Hatfields and Machados hate each other. Well... the matriarchs hate each other. Anger over a high school drama has led to a decades long feud between the two families-- with Ryan and Evita in the center of it all. Friends (and mutual crushes) from high school, the two young adults find themselves playing peace keepers when a mistake by a charity auction means both families are stuck at a vacation home in Nantucket. Between stopping fights and trying to resolve the feud, the spark is reignited between Ryan and Evita.
RIGHT GIRL, WRONG SIDE is a plethora of romance tropes-- second chance romance, forbidden love, forced proximity, and childhood sweetheart. The characters are fun and lively, and Baird did a great job of distinguishing the families but making them both likable. A lot was tackled in this book, especially through the character growth of Mrs. Hatfield, and this book did a great job of showcasing different types of families.
However, I did have a couple of issues with the book. First off, the romance felt flat to me-- I'm not sure if it was just me, but I wasn't able to really discern a spark between Ryan and Evita. They were both nice people, who deserved to be together, but there wasn't much passion there.
There were also a couple of things in the book that threw me off-- the author decided to go on a tangent about the whaling industry in Nantucket, which was oddly placed during the first coffee date, and went into great detail describing Twister and the Macarana as if those were both antiques that no one would understand. This might be me showing my age, but I'm pretty sure both of those are still staples at slumber parties and weddings. The author also seems to be hung up on higher education-- the men's degrees are mentioned and compared so often it becomes weird.
Additionally, the flow felt off (this might be because I listened to the audiobook). But, from what I could tell, there was lots and lots of back and forth dialogue-- which can really bog down a scene if not done sparingly (in my opinion).
And finally, why was there not a male audiobook narrator? Half of the book was from Ryan's point of view, and while Karla Serrato did a good job (even though her voice for the kids was a little... off) this book could have been SO much better with a male's voice too.
All in all, RIGHT GIRL, WRONG SIDE is a good read if you don't mind adults being frustratingly obtuse and enjoy big casts of characters. It would be a solid casual beach read.
In a modern day Hatfields and McCoys, the Hatfields and Machados hate each other. Well... the matriarchs hate each other. Anger over a high school drama has led to a decades long feud between the two families-- with Ryan and Evita in the center of it all. Friends (and mutual crushes) from high school, the two young adults find themselves playing peace keepers when a mistake by a charity auction means both families are stuck at a vacation home in Nantucket. Between stopping fights and trying to resolve the feud, the spark is reignited between Ryan and Evita.
RIGHT GIRL, WRONG SIDE is a plethora of romance tropes-- second chance romance, forbidden love, forced proximity, and childhood sweetheart. The characters are fun and lively, and Baird did a great job of distinguishing the families but making them both likable. A lot was tackled in this book, especially through the character growth of Mrs. Hatfield, and this book did a great job of showcasing different types of families.
However, I did have a couple of issues with the book. First off, the romance felt flat to me-- I'm not sure if it was just me, but I wasn't able to really discern a spark between Ryan and Evita. They were both nice people, who deserved to be together, but there wasn't much passion there.
There were also a couple of things in the book that threw me off-- the author decided to go on a tangent about the whaling industry in Nantucket, which was oddly placed during the first coffee date, and went into great detail describing Twister and the Macarana as if those were both antiques that no one would understand. This might be me showing my age, but I'm pretty sure both of those are still staples at slumber parties and weddings. The author also seems to be hung up on higher education-- the men's degrees are mentioned and compared so often it becomes weird.
Additionally, the flow felt off (this might be because I listened to the audiobook). But, from what I could tell, there was lots and lots of back and forth dialogue-- which can really bog down a scene if not done sparingly (in my opinion).
And finally, why was there not a male audiobook narrator? Half of the book was from Ryan's point of view, and while Karla Serrato did a good job (even though her voice for the kids was a little... off) this book could have been SO much better with a male's voice too.
All in all, RIGHT GIRL, WRONG SIDE is a good read if you don't mind adults being frustratingly obtuse and enjoy big casts of characters. It would be a solid casual beach read.
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity.*
As a person with minimal knowledge of Egyptian history, CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER was an approachable, informative, and well researched delve into the fascinating figure of Cleopatra Selene. While commonly overshadowed by her infamous mother, Cleopatra VII (or, as most of the population refers to her, Cleopatra), Cleopatra Selene was an intriguing and powerful woman in her own right.
Draycott does a wonderful job of piecing together a timeline of Cleopatra Selene's life from her rather minimal historical presence. The author has obviously done a thorough job of not only finding every reference to Cleopatra Selene in classic literature as well as any art that is confirmed (or theorized) to be her. While there isn't a lot about Cleopatra Selene's life, especially compared to her illustrious mother and father, Draycott supplements the gaps in her life with theories (with evidence to support her suspicions).
Additionally, Draycott makes the complex interpersonal relations of Egypt and Rome understandable-- which is definitely not an easy feat!
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about Cleopatra Selene or the post-Cleopatra VII Egypt/Rome!
As a person with minimal knowledge of Egyptian history, CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER was an approachable, informative, and well researched delve into the fascinating figure of Cleopatra Selene. While commonly overshadowed by her infamous mother, Cleopatra VII (or, as most of the population refers to her, Cleopatra), Cleopatra Selene was an intriguing and powerful woman in her own right.
Draycott does a wonderful job of piecing together a timeline of Cleopatra Selene's life from her rather minimal historical presence. The author has obviously done a thorough job of not only finding every reference to Cleopatra Selene in classic literature as well as any art that is confirmed (or theorized) to be her. While there isn't a lot about Cleopatra Selene's life, especially compared to her illustrious mother and father, Draycott supplements the gaps in her life with theories (with evidence to support her suspicions).
Additionally, Draycott makes the complex interpersonal relations of Egypt and Rome understandable-- which is definitely not an easy feat!
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about Cleopatra Selene or the post-Cleopatra VII Egypt/Rome!
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity.*
Tabitha Knight, far from her hometown of Detroit, Michigan, has begun a new life in the romantic city of Paris, France. After losing her job as a riveter at the end of the Second World War, Tabitha was invited to live with her grandfather and 'uncle' in the City of Light and hasn't looked back since. Her life is full with the joys of exploring her new city, tutoring fellow Americans, and sometimes wearing daring (but fashionable) pants as she cycles through the city. Her friend and neighbor, Julia Child, is also helping her improve her skills in the kitchen-- but that's definitely a work in progress. However, Tabitha's life is turned upside down when an acquaintance is found murdered in the Child's building and she finds herself (and those she loves) in the midst of a harrowing investigation.
MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER is a delightful and fun murder mystery-- with just enough self-deprecation to keep it from slipping into cheesy territory. There were several twists that weren't completely unexpected, but were entertaining none the less. Plot aside, it was the characters that truly shone in this book. Tabitha is a wonderful mix of gritty and feminine (without quite going into the 'I'm not like other girls' trope, but then she literally said that line at one point... so...) and she makes a compelling main character and amateur sleuth. Julia Child, already a larger-than-life person in real life, is such a treat to experience in fiction.
And I have to give an accolade to the audiobook narrator. Polly Lee did SUCH a wonderful job of bringing every single character to life-- the reading was full of well-executed accents (including a spot-on Julia Child impression!), unique voices, as well as an effective dramatic reading overall. I love it when narrators follow the natural ebb and flow to the dialogue, including volume changes, and Polly Lee did such a good job executing Tabitha's wit I found myself laughing out loud more than once.
Tabitha Knight, far from her hometown of Detroit, Michigan, has begun a new life in the romantic city of Paris, France. After losing her job as a riveter at the end of the Second World War, Tabitha was invited to live with her grandfather and 'uncle' in the City of Light and hasn't looked back since. Her life is full with the joys of exploring her new city, tutoring fellow Americans, and sometimes wearing daring (but fashionable) pants as she cycles through the city. Her friend and neighbor, Julia Child, is also helping her improve her skills in the kitchen-- but that's definitely a work in progress. However, Tabitha's life is turned upside down when an acquaintance is found murdered in the Child's building and she finds herself (and those she loves) in the midst of a harrowing investigation.
MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER is a delightful and fun murder mystery-- with just enough self-deprecation to keep it from slipping into cheesy territory. There were several twists that weren't completely unexpected, but were entertaining none the less. Plot aside, it was the characters that truly shone in this book. Tabitha is a wonderful mix of gritty and feminine (without quite going into the 'I'm not like other girls' trope, but then she literally said that line at one point... so...) and she makes a compelling main character and amateur sleuth. Julia Child, already a larger-than-life person in real life, is such a treat to experience in fiction.
And I have to give an accolade to the audiobook narrator. Polly Lee did SUCH a wonderful job of bringing every single character to life-- the reading was full of well-executed accents (including a spot-on Julia Child impression!), unique voices, as well as an effective dramatic reading overall. I love it when narrators follow the natural ebb and flow to the dialogue, including volume changes, and Polly Lee did such a good job executing Tabitha's wit I found myself laughing out loud more than once.
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity.*
If you love the Great British Bake Off (GBBO), murder, and character development then do I have a recommendation for you.
THE GOLDEN SPOON is told through seven (that's right, seven) different points of view-- and Maxwell somehow manages to make each narrator distinctive and interesting in their own right. Which also meant, despite my worries, it was easy to differentiate between each character because they were all so unique.
While the story line wasn't complex or intricate-- this story was still sumptuous, fun, and such a pleasure to read. The murder mystery portion of the story was slow to begin, but Maxwell pulled it off with her wonderful cast of characters (can you tell how much I love them all?) and then, in what felt like a moment, everything began to snap into place like a puzzle.
If you love the Great British Bake Off (GBBO), murder, and character development then do I have a recommendation for you.
THE GOLDEN SPOON is told through seven (that's right, seven) different points of view-- and Maxwell somehow manages to make each narrator distinctive and interesting in their own right. Which also meant, despite my worries, it was easy to differentiate between each character because they were all so unique.
While the story line wasn't complex or intricate-- this story was still sumptuous, fun, and such a pleasure to read. The murder mystery portion of the story was slow to begin, but Maxwell pulled it off with her wonderful cast of characters (can you tell how much I love them all?) and then, in what felt like a moment, everything began to snap into place like a puzzle.
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity.*
In THE THEORY OF (NOT QUITE) EVERYTHING, siblings Art and Mimi Brotherton have been caught in the never ending, monotonous loop of life. Every week happens just the same as the week before, and that's how it's been in the years since the tragic double suicide of their parents. Art, a genius mathematician focused on solving the infamous "p versus np", is posed with the most serious problem of his illustrious career-- helping his sister find love.
Mimi, who had resigned herself to being her brother's caretaker for the rest of her life, has decided she doesn't necessarily have to do it alone. But a chance encounter with on of Art's fellow mathematicians may throw the entire, carefully planned, algorithm right out the window.
The story that follows shows what it's like to suffer side by side, but still be alone. And what it takes to break down those barriers.
Overall, the story took a while to get into-- the switching POVs were not clearly marked and made it difficult to fully engage while reading. However, the ending was truly satisfying and brought everything back around. The characters are well developed and well written, and it was easy to relate to Mimi and Art.
This book is a good choice for fans of The Kiss Quotient and The Rosie Project, or anyone looking for a familial book that involves a little bit of math, love, and mystery.
In THE THEORY OF (NOT QUITE) EVERYTHING, siblings Art and Mimi Brotherton have been caught in the never ending, monotonous loop of life. Every week happens just the same as the week before, and that's how it's been in the years since the tragic double suicide of their parents. Art, a genius mathematician focused on solving the infamous "p versus np", is posed with the most serious problem of his illustrious career-- helping his sister find love.
Mimi, who had resigned herself to being her brother's caretaker for the rest of her life, has decided she doesn't necessarily have to do it alone. But a chance encounter with on of Art's fellow mathematicians may throw the entire, carefully planned, algorithm right out the window.
The story that follows shows what it's like to suffer side by side, but still be alone. And what it takes to break down those barriers.
Overall, the story took a while to get into-- the switching POVs were not clearly marked and made it difficult to fully engage while reading. However, the ending was truly satisfying and brought everything back around. The characters are well developed and well written, and it was easy to relate to Mimi and Art.
This book is a good choice for fans of The Kiss Quotient and The Rosie Project, or anyone looking for a familial book that involves a little bit of math, love, and mystery.
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity.*
LIGHTS, the third and final installment of the highly acclaimed Ghosts series, continues the story of friends Wendell (the ghost), Marjorie, and Eliza as they decide to investigate the cause of Wendell's untimely death. This book, quiet and so very graceful, explores the themes of compromise, friendship, and grief-- never losing sight of it's original charm.
Thummler did a wonderful job of handling heavy topics with a sensitive hand. Each of the characters imperfect (they are, after all, not only human but middle school aged) and Thummler balanced between fantasy and real-life drama many girls face. Wendell's story was beautiful, and the ending was immensely satisfying.
A wonderful addition to any middle-grade library, LIGHTS is sure to not disappoint.
LIGHTS, the third and final installment of the highly acclaimed Ghosts series, continues the story of friends Wendell (the ghost), Marjorie, and Eliza as they decide to investigate the cause of Wendell's untimely death. This book, quiet and so very graceful, explores the themes of compromise, friendship, and grief-- never losing sight of it's original charm.
Thummler did a wonderful job of handling heavy topics with a sensitive hand. Each of the characters imperfect (they are, after all, not only human but middle school aged) and Thummler balanced between fantasy and real-life drama many girls face. Wendell's story was beautiful, and the ending was immensely satisfying.
A wonderful addition to any middle-grade library, LIGHTS is sure to not disappoint.