bookishaddictions's Reviews (310)

So I snagged this one as my Prime choice a few months ago… It was definitely the right choice. While I’m not a mom, I’ve witnessed my fair share of mom-shaming, and I’ve experienced it when people assumed that my toddler siblings are mine. Harms addresses the harsh realities of motherhood beautifully, and reminds us all that most parents are just doing the best they can. In the case of Celeste and Wendy are the prime examples of mothers with polar opposite parenting styles, and there is so much we can learn from them about our internal assumptions and unfair criticisms. We can see how the SAHM is judged for being “too perfect” and the working mom is critiqued for not being perfect enough. The story is funny, honest, and maintains the classic body-swap trope that many of us have loved since Freaky Friday. If you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up read, this is a good one! 

I tried pretty hard to get into this one, but it just wasn’t for me. I used this for a “Give an author a second chance” reading prompt, and I honestly feel like that chance was wasted on Foley’s works. I won’t say that there is something particularly wrong with her work, but it felt like I was reading The Hunting Party all over again; if you haven’t seen my review of THP, I wasn’t a fan. I was intrigued by the basic idea of trip gone bad whodunnit trope, but it left me very underwhelmed. I felt like the bulk of the plot was predictable, and she created the villain similarly to THP. I found that five different perspectives was just too much also, as I felt like I couldn’t really get to know any of the characters well enough to care about them. I love the setting, but the story itself felt lacking to me. I never felt an urge to keep reading when I put it down; I just wanted the book over with by the time I was about 40% of the way through. I love thrillers and mysteries, but The Guest List was not for me 🤷🏼‍♀️

I had heard some mixed opinions about Apples Never Fall. I started reading with an open mind, as I love a good mystery; this one moves so damn slow though! ANF comes from the perspective of more than seven different people, so I feel like I never could REALLY get to know each of the characters. I never really found myself wanting to read this after I put it down. While I thought the characters were fairly relatable, I didn’t feel compelled to care about them. Honestly, I was feeling this would be a 3.5 star book until I got to the ending, and then it easily dropped to a 2.5 for me. I ended this book feeling extremely underwhelmed after 464 pages of meh. I’m not saying that everyone is going to dislike this one, but I do finally get why people said you either love it or you hate it 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’ll admit, I waited way too long to read this one. I got it in my BOTM box back in October, but I couldn’t read it since I had so much course work. The term has ended, and that meant I finally had time to read this one. I definitely do not regret getting this one, as it kept me wondering what was next every step of the way. The characters (Hannah and Bailey) are relatable and intriguing; Owen left me with so many mixed feelings. I love that Hannah cared so much for her new family that she decided to investigate and find answers herself (as opposed to waiting for the police). While there is limited I can say without giving away important details, I will say that this shows just how strong the the bonds of family (both chosen and by blood) can be. If you haven’t already checked out TLTHTM, I highly recommend you do so now!

I love good historical fiction novels, especially the ones that are based around true events. While The Paris Library isn’t exactly how the events happened, Charles definitely got the overall basis of it across. I found that the characters each faced so many relatable challenges, as well as scenarios I could never imagine being in myself. Odile and Lily take readers on adventures that show both the best and the worst of humanity. If you enjoyed The Paris Architect, you’ll likely enjoy this one 🇫🇷

I will say, The Paris Library has reminded me that I could never learn the Dewey Decimal System 🤣🤷🏼‍♀️

If you grew up watching the Fresh Prince in action, you’d probably love this book. Smith tells readers about his childhood, his introduction to the hip hop scene, and later how he begins his career as an actor. I’m not big on memoirs, but Will had me unsure if I wanted to laugh or cry. Smith serves as a fantastic reminder of why it is important to find that work-personal life balance, as he explains his struggles and successes as he tries to navigate both parts of his lives. Smith does not hide the mistakes he has made, so this allows readers to get to know Will in a way we haven’t previously. He tackles universal issues such as anxiety, fear of abandonment, and much more. If you saw the conversation starting slap at the awards recently like I did, then this book just may help you understand what was going on in Smith’s head as that happened. I loved Smith as a kid, and I’ll still support him now 🤷🏼‍♀️

I got this on Kindle, and my only regret is not reading it sooner. Hendrix brings all of the creepy vibes that readers expect after reading The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, but this time we are taken to Charleston in 1988. This is a story full of hair spray, the Go Gos, and plenty of mix tapes. If you love 80s horror flicks, you’ll love this book; Hendrix successfully captures the same aesthetic. The Kindle edition is definitely a multimedia experience though; I love that readers can listen to the a MBE-themed playlist containing 80s hits, read info pamphlets people realistically would have received, sort through news clippings, watch video footage, experience the ads of the time, and more. This story can be cheesy at times, but it is also a mix of humor and emotional turmoil. Now, in the name of the Go Gos, I *softly* command thee to read this one too! 👹

If you know how to make some magic happen in the kitchen, you should definitely check out Snoop’s cookbook. He provides recipes for the fancy meals, but he also includes some hood staples. His recipes are clear to follow, and many of them can be made for a low price. His commentary can be pretty entertaining too. This cookbook has everything from breakfast to Snoop’s favorite drinks. He even provides lists of his favorite restaurants, cereals, chips, etc… I found a few new recipes I’d like to try 🍝🍾

This romance featuring soap and telenovela stars is definitely not fit for cable TV. Jasmine and Ashton are attractive people that are looking to be more than a pretty face in the entertainment industry. Their experience filming their new show brings about a story of love, fear, and personal growth. Daria addresses the inequity in the entertainment industry and the significance of two Latinx actors climbing the charts in a way that can allow readers to really empathize with the struggles many POC artists face. I also loved how Daria reminds readers that our favorite actors are people too, and they too have their own identities and problems; this can be hard to keep in mind when we always see them from behind a screen. Daria brought Jasmine and Ashton to life; they are smart, creative, and passionate about what they do. Most importantly for some of you, this novel gets down right dirty 😉

I snagged this title months ago as my Prime First Reads choice…. Let me start off by saying that I made the right choice. Although I kept putting this one off for whatever reason, I was completely hooked once I picked it up. It was fun, relatable, and really captured the essence of a growing teen. I loved that this novel also shares a voice that is typically ignored in literature- that of a young women that is both of Indian descent and Muslim growing up in Canada. Heron helped remind me to be conscious of microaggressions within my community, but she also reminded me of how beautiful life can be when everyone is treated well. Moving beyond the diversity found within the characters, I enjoyed Heron’s style of humor. I love that the story was able to successfully be a rom com *and* slice of life all at once; most of the rom coms I read aren’t very realistic, so it’s a nice change of pace. I won’t spoil the ending, but I will note that it was a nice touch and supported the novel’s overall themes and messages. 🌸

Educators- This would be a handy read during a high school unit focused on the young adult novel. If nothing else, this one would do well in your class library!