emmreadsbooks's Reviews (1.28k)

HOOOOOOOLY SHIT.

While this book is slow to start, it speeds up quickly and soon you're coasting down this hill with no end in sight. Every plot point piles on to the last, adding to the drama and stress level. OH THE STRESS LEVEL. This is a wonderfully crafted novel following the descent into madness of a mother, bending genres and leaving the reader constantly questioning the credibility of what we've been told.

My oh my this book is good.

Wow wow wow! This is a satirical masterpiece that is still able to discuss important topics like racism. I really felt for Buck throughout the book, even as he begins his descent into douchebaggery. This book was reminiscent of Fight Club, especially in the second half, which is an A+ for me. Go into this book with an open mind, ready to see things that may seem ridiculous (though in all reality looking back could totally happen), and you'll love it like I did.

This was the book that I needed to read. While my experience with asexuality is different from Georgia's, there were several commonalities in how we each felt through our journeys. This book doesn't use sexuality as a plot point in any way and that's something that could've happened so easily. Through the rich characterization and interconnectivity, this turned into a beautiful YA contemporary about sexuality, friendship, and self-discovery.

This is a cute summer romance that had me giggling and tearing up at times. Curse you cartoonish covers that hide all the trauma within! But all deception aside, I loved Meredith and Wit as well as their escapades in Martha's Vineyard. This book has me hankering for seafood and a game of Assassin with friends. Perfect for a read on the beach.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks FIRE for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I enjoyed the premise of this book and that it explored some of the nuances of Islam. I was a bit misled by the blurb and found myself expecting a cute rom-com, not a family drama full of triggers. That being said it was well-written and enjoyable, though I wish there was more of a distinction between what was Islam and what was culture in terms of some of the restrictions.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Taken at face value, one might take this to be a romance novel.

It's not. This book is about friendship, love, loss, and grief. And when I set aside my preconceived notions, I think it's an excellent book on those themes. Lest I risk spoiling the book, I won't say much more. However this is a well-written book, though I could have done without some of the restaurant namedropping, and certainly memorable.

Y'all know that I'm here for any videogame / esports based books at this point, especially when they focus on overachievers hiding their identity from their peers. I loved the vivid descriptions of gaming and the Discord-style chats from Team Unity, oh the multimedia! If there's a sequel, I'm so down.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Children's for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I'll admit that I was a bit nervous about switching to a new protagonist after the Zoe Bentley series, but this killer series debut made up for it. I loved following Abby, a cult survivor and hostage negotiator, through her daily life as a mother and as a lieutenant. Adding in the element of a time-sensitive kidnapping ramped up the tension to an extreme and I couldn't put it down! Call me a Mike Omer fan for life.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This is a gorgeous fantasy that thrusts you into the thick of it and just expects you to hang on. And for the most part, I did. I quite enjoyed the magic system and the idea of imbued tattoos, but I felt like a bit of the worldbuilding suffered. However for a 400 page fantasy novel, the pacing was excellent and I quite enjoyed the plot.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Tor/Forge for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This is a beautiful story about grief, moving on, and overcoming fear. I loved both Anna and Brody as characters and they both brought unique perspectives to the book. My one complaint is that I wanted to see Anna and Brody together for more than just a moment, but overall a very sweet book.

*Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*