I cried....... it's so beautifully written. This is a coming-of-age story about Samira a Sudanese teen in New York who is struggling and rebelling against the strict cultural expectations as well as attempting to heal the fractures in her relationship with her mother.

She finds herself in poetry, unfortunately an opportunistic older man uses her new interest as a means to groom her, use her, take advantage of the fact that she is desperately seeking validation and love.

Every part of me felt connected to this story. Highly Recommend for those of us who have ever felt alone in a crowded room, prejudged, or was ever blinded by sweet words and a devious smile. 

 This is a villain origin story. It's ripe with history, filled with religious assimilation, misogyny, stolen innocence, unhinged female rage, and vengeance.

I was in my feelings with this book. It showed the ugliness of enabling evil, the power of man, and the betrayal of those you trust the most. But like most villain stories the MC isn't always completely innocent and there were definitely moments I wanted to scream and shake her as well.

Content Warnings - SA, Forced Abortion, Extreme Bullying, Domestic Violence, and Selfish, Resentful, Evil, Bitch Mom.

Highly Recommend, this would be an amazing movie. 

I was listening to this on audio. I am not a fan of the narrator. The story has a lot of potential, but I don't feel like there is anything special or pulling my interest. Not a fan of the FMC's constant flashbacks just to answer a simple question. I feel like my twenty something daughter or a person who is not familiar with the history of Elizabeth Bathory would be more intrigued.

 Not gonna lie i was worried for a minute. Everyone kept saying this book is soooo good, but I just thought it was okay. A girl with a serial killer dad that directly or indirectly influenced her own dark side. Okay cool. A cold-hearted mother who was jealous of her own daughter, rude but not special.

Around 60% in I questioned if I should even finish this. Not because it was bad but because I felt like it was missing the WOW factor.

BITCH!!!!!!

I am so glad that I didn't stop reading. The WOW came, the weird, creepy, WTF twist dropped, and I was shook. I couldn't put this book down. I had to power read the ending and was light weight sad when it ended. I want, no need a epilogue or follow up novella or something.

This was a horror slow burn. 

 Quick, Bad Ass, and Powering. I will never look at a Beanie Baby the same way again :) 

 Hollywood has arrived on the shores of a scared and cursed Filipino island with intentions of recording a documentary series. They are aware of the history, the rumors, and the fear the locals have of this island but they don't care. Money is the only thing that matters.

This was an entertaining read; I took pleasure in seeing the island toy with and eventually take the lives of the entitled. Our MC Alon is hired as a tour guide as the island seems to favor him and he knows no harm will come to him.

Alon and his dog are charming. The relationship he sparks with Chase an American teen visiting the set was very sweet and clumsy.

The island went through several emotions, choosing violence to get it's point across. I liked it.