I absolutely love being immersed in these old worlds. I don't have a lot of background knowledge in Greek myths though I know the big stories, but I love the deep dive Miller does on minor characters. Reading her novels makes me want to pick up the Iliad or Odyssey again, not trudge through it like I did in high school.

This novelization of the goddess Circe (which, I must embarassingly admit I was pronouncing "Sirk" in my head while I read, and close to the end of the novel I googled it and nope, it's "Sir-see" or "Kir-see" woops) was full of gorgeous prose and I related to it on so many levels.

Bravo, Miller. What's next??

Finished this a few days ago, and it won't let me go. In the moments after first finishing, I probably had a quizzical look on my face. I definitely thought "what was that?" and "what's the key here that I am missing?"

It's hold, though, lies probably in the fact that it ultimately asks the reader to assess their own way of thinking. (There is no key.) The novel invites you, by its third section, to really assess what happened in the first and second... and creates a question you didn't even know this book was going to be ABOUT. And then: is this way you perceive this story (these stories?) okay... maybe it's not?

I'm doing a terrible summation of what it was like to read and think about this. Or maybe it's right on point, because it left me bewildered and my brain chugging and I wanted to re-read it again but, alas, it was due back at the library. I have a feeling I may read it again down the line, though. I think it's saying a lot and it's a little hidden but I was fascinated more upon completion than during the reading (but, I was still always happy to be reading it whenever I opened it back up).

This would make a great book club book because of how it tests the reader and lays out something for you that every other person might look at differently, but still asks a couple of central questions that may not have right/wrong answers.

Super cute story with fun characters who eat A LOT. I had to stop reading this when I was hungry because I would just want like donuts and tacos and lose my concentration on the audiobook. I really liked the protagonists, and there was a lot going on beyond the romance storyline which I appreciated. The sister storyline climax near the end had me going "aw" out loud.

SUPER FUN READ. Looking forward to her next book which is apparently about minor character Carlos from this novel.

I liked this okay. I know a lot of people LOVE this, but I think there's something about reading a work at the right time/place and this fun flight of fancy was just not what I should've been reading. I was not in the mood for whimsy while dealing with a blizzard-caused four-day power outage that displaced my family for a time, a sick two-year-old, and then a sick me. I started this audiobook before any of this, and it made me smile a bit. It got a little grating, though (like, I just haven't been in the mindset for the last year and a half to hear about how a Silicon Valley guy made his billions based on his amazing, best-on-the-market animatronic boobs). I imagine that many people will love and enjoy this novel, but I'm not one of them... it's a little too precious and dude-y for my tastes. But like I said, my brain environment was a little on-edge while reading.

Ah, should also mention that I was reading the amazing Sing, Unburied, Sing at the same time and that may have twinged my feelings for this book, too. Sorry, Clay.

ETA: the audiobook narrator is wonderful, though! If you like whimsy books, this guy does a great job. (I imagine if people grew up loving Harry Potter or something they would thoroughly enjoy this book? I would think!)

A really fun read that made me laugh a lot. I liked how meta it got with Penny's story within a story...WITHIN A STORY. And she was a smart, funny protagonist to see things from her POV. Sam was also a goo character and their back stories were well done. There were a few sections that probably could've been tightened up, particularly the relationship between Penny and her mother which I understood on an emotional level I suppose but didn't logically make sense...but that may just be me, officially outgrown of connecting with teen characters and instead being like "but what about THE MOM?"

I don't want a book sequel but I wish I could keep up with Penny and Sam via social media. I suppose they're not huge social media people in the book, but I would enjoy knowing they're doing okay via the occasional Instagram photo or tweet. It'd be perf.

A great noir read that seems like a pre-cursor to Highsmith's Talented Mr. Ripley. Told through the eyes of the serial killer in late 1940s Los Angeles, this book made me shiver. Highly recommend!

I've dabbled in the romance genre, but I think I finally found what I was looking for from it... and I realize it may just be a take on the central Pride & Prejudice tension of two people who are made for each other but start out despising each other. But, like, this one had really good sexual tension & sex in it? It's a well-written novel with witty dialogue and a solid plot with stakes. I thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely be keeping tabs on this author.

The only weird thing in the book was what may have been some weird Australian word usage that occasionally took me out of the story, other than that, loved it.

I borrowed this from the library but I think I need to buy a copy for myself.

I really want to like Emma Straub novels, but I've had no luck with #2. It starts out really good, but right where I thought there was going to be some interesting drama--when the titular character hits stardom--there really wasn't much. Laura is such a passive character, rarely making leaps and instead letting it all happen to her though there were marks of ambition early on.

Molly Ringwald narrates...and she was... ok.

Great story filled with interesting characters, but there were a few moments that took me out of the book that ultimately made the writing feel messy (and should've had a better editor?). A good novel, but left me wanting and didn't totally engage me though I was primed to and I really thought I would love this.

At times the book seems to be about shallow or withholding; the writing doesn't scream at the reader to understand. Instead, much like our protagonist Romy, it slowly presents some facts. The story does not entreat the reader to feel one way or another, but lays it all out from various points of view. Some more tangible to discern from others. It sometimes seemed boring, but the pieces were being laid out and by the end come together quite beautifully. The reader might find themselves rethinking a lot about their perception of this country, its systems, and the people in it.

This is the fourth book I've read this year that had a major theme re: the American prison system.