This book was probably the only way I would have completed the StoryGraph 2023 Challenge to read a book about start-ups. 

I found this very interesting and sprinkled with humor (which surprised me). I listened to it and loved hearing all the different experts give advice as well as understand first-hand the “p-pop” sounds and whatnot. 

It’s been a nugget of an idea to start a podcast, a thought almost everyone has in their life, probably. And as anyone who has ever tried anything, I didn’t realise exactly how much went into making one. Yes, I knew there’d be editing and marketing and planning and whatnot, but this book went into some deep details that would probably get overlooked. So if you’re someone who is interested in having a podcast, this is a great source to start! 

Oh, wow. I think this may have rekindled my love of fantasy books again. 

I loved the action and pacing. And the love and attraction between Xaden and Violet was so well done. I was invested in everything - from the dragons to powers to relationships to the betrayals to hidden secrets…everything. 

I’m very eager for book 2 and will be counting down the days. 

I found this pretty mid, to be honest, which is why I’m giving it a 3. I think I just expected it to be something different, and that’s definitely more on me, but I wished it had something a little more exciting happening. It felt very much like “let’s wait around” instead of any actual action being taken. 

There were also parts of the plot that I found a little weird? Like the whole reason for the familial separation, and the romance seemed forced to me. I honestly think it would be more powerful if the main character didn’t end up with anyone at the end, but that’s just my opinion. 

Otherwise, I liked the overall voice, and the writing was pretty ok, and I did want to know what happened, so I kept reading. I think the main character’s growth was touching and resonated with me. 

The title of this book is really caught my attention. I really didn’t know what to expect of it other than knowing there was going to be some humour involved but wow, this was such a deep end reflective book. I found myself understanding so much of what the author was going through in the therapy sessions. I found that I could relate to her a lot and I found a lot of the material in the book, rather comforting knowing that I wasn’t alone in feeling viewed emotions of extreme thought as well as imposter syndrome. This book really looks in words challenges, the reader to do the same the character and person of a psychiatrist was a real comfort in this book, and it almost felt like I was having my own therapy session, which I should clarify is a good thing. I am definitely going to recommend this book to anyone who has had therapy or possibly would like to start therapy and who would like to look at within themselves and understand the reason they do things and think things.

I found Wilbur to be very whiny and selfish, and Charlotte deserved more recognition and love. The people are stupid and think the pig is great because the spider did something. It’s almost like…picture this: there is a piece of artwork, a painting, of a gorgeously detailed shoe. On one side is the artist. On the other is the shoe in real life. People see the painting and do to the real shoe and say, “wow! How magnificent is this shoe?!” And the artist just stands there without anyone acknowledging them. Then someone says “this painting is beautiful! How’d it come to be? Maybe the artist?” And then someone else says “don’t be ridiculous! It’s a miracle! Look at this shoe!” It’s stupid. 

I will say that I did think the writing was quite good. I liked the idea of carefully choosing words to say a lot and the power of words. 

I'm reading this as an adult in 2023, so I understand this book really isn't meant for me. But I thought I would have enjoyed it a lot more - it's a children's classic, after all.

But the book started with descriptions of killing animals to eat, which is fine, but I know I'm a little squeamish. And I thought it was a weird way to open a book? 

I can appreciate how the writing was constructed for a child to enjoy. I think there was a nice voice to it. When the narrator changed pov to the children, there was a child-like voice to it, too. I also enjoyed the storytelling theme, especially when the father told stories to the children.

This was definitely a product of its time, showing how life was like in the early 1900s where children were beaten for behaving poorly and girls were to be pretty and skinny. 

While it didn't age well, I can see how some kids would enjoy this. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Becky Albertalli book, and wow - it never disappoints me. 

I think this is the most I have ever related to a book. It was like Albertalli took my innermost insecurities regarding bisexuality and put them in Imogen’s mind as well. I’ve only been out for 6 or so years (3 publicly), and I’m 30, but I can feel EVERY SINGLE ONE of Imogen’s feelings myself. The complexities and second-guessings were written so incredibly well. I applaud Albertalli. 

I also know a little bit of history behind this author, and I just know Albertalli used some of her own experiences and put them in this book (being pretty much forced to come out because other queer people were bullying it to fruition). I was definitely thinking about Becky Albertalli while reading, and I feel for her. I’m so sorry, Becky Albertalli. ❤️

The writing was so great. I absolutely loved the characters and loved how they communicated with each other - there were excellent scenes of good communication between characters that were so nice because that’s one of my peeves in books (when characters could resolve issues if they just TALKED!). But there were plenty of instances where characters communicated feelings in a healthy and caring way. 

I also really want to be friends with all of Lily’s college friends as well. They were so cool and kind and inviting. 

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was so wonderful as well. 

Easy 5/5 stars. No hesitation. 

Perhaps it's because I listened to the audiobook or that I was in a weird headspace, but I just couldn't get into this one. I found the politics of it all pretty boring and difficult to grasp since I don't care too much about overseas politics. Especially in the early 1960's. 

I also didn't find the characters lovable, and I didn't feel like we got to know them well enough outside of Vera. But the spacing was also very slow, in my opinion. It felt tedious, and I ended up speeding the audiobook up to 1.5 speed just so I could get through it.

I bet if I ended up really trying to pay attention I'd like it more? But the pacing really made it difficult for me to enjoy or want to enjoy this book.

I did not think I was going to like this nearly as much as I did! I'm loving the influx of lgbtqiap+ materials in middle grade books now, and this was so well done and loving. 

As a librarian, I am constantly fighting for the right to read and hope that book bans against queer content eventually stops. This tackled the banning of a middle grade book that may or may not have lgbtqiap+ themes. I appreciate that the author made a point to say it didn't matter whether the characters in the fictionalized challenged book were gay or not because it shouldn't matter. There were lots of great quotes and arguments to express distaste for book bans - specifically against queer ones.

I'm usually not the biggest fan of intertwined stories because I like sticking with a single pov, but I absolutely loved how all three storylines came together in the end. When it clicked how they connected, my jaw dropped and my heart got so happy.

This was pretty solid. I enjoyed it alright and loved all the queer rep! 

I found the writing to be so-so. It didn’t bother me too much, and I didn’t pay much attention to it until there were moments where it was very obviously geared towards teens. I understand I’m not the exact target audience, but when it get to the points where it’s a little “do they like me? Do they like me back? What if it ruins our friendship?” it feels a little juvenile - especially when the plot is written in a way that gives the reader information the characters don’t. And it’s just a little overdone for my taste. 

I enjoyed the characters, too. I liked the four main girls a lot. 

There were moments when during the present, it would be Zoe narrating the story and then it would jump into the past, it would switch to 3rd person narration. And while I understand the choice made to change narration pov to differentiate time jumps, that always jars me a little and just isn’t for me specifically.