bookishaddictions's Reviews (310)

So I’m not normally a poetry person, but I decided to give Under Her Skin a try. This collection of horror poetry specifically focuses on body horror- the distinct process of a person losing control of their body. All poems in the collection were written by women or femmes, so this book is feminist through and through. Although I wasn’t fond of half the poems, I did find some I really enjoyed (Growing Pains, Shed, Betrayer, I become Numinous, Queen, and Dissolving Connections). If you like horror and poetry, you’ll likely be enjoy Under Her Skin

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC to check this one out before it’s April 2022 debute

I read this book while I was in early high school, and curious Liesel drew me in from the very first page. It broke my heart to learn about the difficulties Max experienced during the war, as I had not yet learned about the World Wars in school. I love that Zusack also reminds readers that many German citizens were not in favor of the war effort, and many were even left supportive of the nazis treatment of their victims. Although the overall knowledge of the Holocaust deeply disturbed me, I loved that The Book Thief showed the depth of humanity’s bond through Liesel’s family. I can only hope that even 1/4 of the population have the thirst for knowledge and stories that Liesel demonstrates

Beyah faces a summer of cute boys, seemingly casual romance, and most importantly, a newfound relationship with her father and her step family. After a life of hardship with her mother in the poverty stricken central U.S. Facing a new life of luxury at her step mother’s vacation home in Texas, Beyah is essentially forced to confront her traumas and open her heart. Hoover creates such a believable summer romance and struggle with past hardships that the reader must ask themselves: do we really have heart bones, and is it possible for them to break?

PSA- There are some potentially trigger scenes

If you love vampires and strong women, this is a perfect book for you. Hendrix brings to life the relentlessly strong Patricia Campbell. Although Patricia isn’t your typical slayer, she demonstrates just how strong a mother’s love is. Patricia and her fellow book club members are an unstoppable force of nature when a threat appears to be lurking too close to their families. With all of the skills of your average southern housewife, the book club will comfort you throughout the most anxiety-inducing moments

Grande tells the story of her efforts to secure her dream- to have a real home, a family that loves her as much as she loves them, and to make it as a writer- in her latest memoir. She describes the difficulties she faced within her personal life, as well as the struggles she faced within the world of academics. Grande reminds Latinx writers, especially Latina writers, that there IS a space for them in the world. She emphasizes her first experiences getting to learn about Latina writers in her university courses, and how much is meant for her to finally find something that reflected her own life. With tales of poverty, healing, and determination, Grande’s story is one that most can empathize with

So I bought this one as a Kindle when it was on sale without reading any reviews, and I was seriously underwhelmed. Anya St. Clair is essentially your stereotypical fashionista (bitchy attitude and all)…. only she’s actually a murderer. While the idea of a psychopathic fashion blogger was interesting in concept, the story itself lacked depth. As bodies hit the floor, Anya becomes more less believable and more shallow. Although I found myself lacking curiosity towards what Anya would do next, I pushed through since I hate leaving any books unfinished. With more books available to me than I could possibly finish in my lifetime, I wish I hadn’t wasted my time on this one

I rarely read anything sci fi leaning, but I decided to read it since a fellow CSUB 2020 alumni wrote it (was a classmate). I actually found myself really enjoying it and wanting to read it quickly.

If you’re looking for something to keep you on edge, this is it!

Overall, 3.4/5. I found myself intrigued by the story concept, and the result definitely surprised me. However, the characters themselves didn’t feel believable. The ending also comes out of no where. The ebook is still full of typos, but it does make sense despite them. You have to be prepared for a weird flow though; the chapters from Sara’s perspective are first person while the chapters from Bradley’s are third person. I overall applaud how this story kept me guessing, but it definitely could use some improvement. Props for inclusivity via Poppy Delight though!