This is the true story of a mass shooting that occurred in September 1949 in Camden, New Jersey. The story of the perpetrator, Howard Unruh, is told through the point of view of a 12-year-old neighbor, Raymond Haven, and his mother, Freda Unruh, with a few brief narratives from others (ie, a prosecutor and psychiatrist). It’s clear the book is written as a story with embellishments. I will say that the book seemed to drag on, though I can appreciate that it’s focus wasn’t on Unruh and his crimes, but on the people affected by it. How Freda struggled with loving her son and feeling guilty for his crimes. How Raymond struggled with the kinship he felt for Unruh and what that said about him. It also looked more into the psychological motives for Unruh’s murder spree and how he processed his actions. 
I chose this book for a reading challenge and it seemed interesting enough as I’m a true crime aficionado and even have a degree in criminology. I think embellishing the story is fine when the author makes an effort to remind readers throughout that it’s embellished. However, I prefer an unembellished story when it comes to true events, it puts readers into the story and makes it more relatable and less of a reciting of facts, but it can cause some issues with reliability. 
Overall, I think the book was great, it had its moments and I loved the epilogue, but it’s probably at least 50 pages too long.

Where to start with this sapphic romcom? I think the book has great bones. I like bisexual Claire Sutherland who is a single parent to 11-year old Ruby and trying to navigate co-parenting with her historically unreliable ex. I can definitely relate to having an absent dad who made promises and never showed up. I feel like the dynamic between Claire, Ruby, and Josh was incredibly realistic and natural. I even like out-and-proud-since-high-school Delilah Green. A struggling tattooed photographer in New York City. Her stepsister (and Claire’s best friend), Astrid Parker is an acquired taste, but also relatable. I have and I knew many women who grew up trying to do everything to make their parents happy and proud of them. Claire and Astrid’s other best friend, Iris Kelly (also bisexual) is a whole other story. Iris is a tough pill to swallow. 
*Spoilers*
Once Delilah is finished high school, she leaves her sleepy Oregon town for the Big Apple and doesn’t look back. Why? Because her father dies when she’s 10 (and her mom is gone too) and she’s left in the care of her cold, uncaring stepmother, Isabel Parker-Green. After Delilah loses her father, she retreats within herself since Isabel wasn’t comforting at all, she felt unwanted and alone. She was outcasted further when Astrid and her two friends, Iris and Claire also excluded her and made fun of her behind her back (mostly Iris). 
I understand that Iris was a child, but she’s still incredibly brazen and blunt. She has no filter and says the rudest things. I will say she has her moments and she made me laugh and she punch the hell outta Josh. However, she’s a difficult character to like. 
It makes me angry that the house Delilah’s father built for his family is a site of her continuous trauma. I can’t understand how he even married Isabel if she’s always been so cold. 
I feel like Delilah and Claire’s relationship lacked enough development to really root for them or swoon over their declarations of love. I read romance not just for the spice (because I read plenty without spice) but for the butterflies, heart flipping, and breath stopping fluff and wholesomeness between the couple. I didn’t feel any of those things between Claire and Delilah. Their feelings went from sex to feelings in a very stereotypical lesbian fashion. 
Also, AHB makes it a point to highlight the whiteness of her characters (i.e. “white woman” and “white cishet man”) and does nothing to actually add dynamic characters of color. Not even a side character of color. It’s definitely a seems like the book was teetering between trying to be progressive and inclusive but leaning more toward some pseudo feminism (aka white feminism). I obviously hope that’s not the case, but I remain skeptical until proven otherwise. 
Despite its shortcomings, I do plan to read Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fall. I think the only saving grace for Astrid is that I’ve pictured her as Petra from Jane the Virgin and I LOVE Petra. I’m all for a bi woman coming out later in life (just like Petra) so I’m definitely intrigued by Astrid’s story. 

3.75/5 ⭐️ 

As a short, fast-paced love story, I have to say this was pretty cute and wholesome. The sex was outta left pocket but I kind of liked it? Obviously it could’ve been a full novel with developing the relationship over the course of 300+ pages as well as having more dynamic characters, but that’s not what this was. Liam and Mara are cute idiots who like each other and then bone. I enjoyed it. I laughed. I had butterflies. I “oooo”ed and “ahhhh”ed, and that’s enough for me. Don’t go into this book thinking it’s The Love Hypothesis. Is a novella with only so many pages to get through the story. I enjoy Ali Hazelwood’s stories (so far) mostly because I’m demisexual and there isn’t a lot of representation in romance novels for ace people and I think in just these two books she’s given more representation for those on the asexual spectrum (in contemporary romance) than any other BookTok recommended book. 

Look. Was it good? Not really. Will I be reading the sequel? Absolutely. This is the kind of trash reading I really enjoy. If you like ACOTAR or FBAA, this definitely has borrowed themes and characters and plots from them, but very loosely developed. I do like the concept of the Veil and human mates. Caelum is an acquired taste for sure but I enjoy the bantering between him and Estrella. Not a fan of the “little one” nickname. “My star” is fine and very endearing but “little one” is so cringe. “Little” anything is barf. I didn’t like how he became super possessive towards the end especially since Estrella has always been at the mercy of other men and not having any choice in life. This book feels more like the base of a story that you go back and actually develop upon. It’s basically the skeleton of a good story. 

I liked the conclusion to the introduction to Riri Williams. I loved this comic series and the conclusion was fun but a bit of a mess with a lot of unanswered questions. So frustrating. But it was a lot of fun and I got to see Riri really shine and make friends! Plus, I got to see some of my favorite heroes! So much fun and gotta love classic Stark sarcasm. 

It’s pretty hard to get into. The characters aren’t likable at all. Stephanie let her sons walk all over her and they were clearly sociopaths that were hurting girls at their high school. I wanted to beat their faces in every time they popped up. Enzo was very possessive of Stephanie and also turned out to be a total creep. Michelle is a nosy hypocrite and Jude is a monster of a man doing horrible things to protect his family which turns out isn’t worth protecting! Caroline is crazier than everyone else. 
The book was short yet it took me nearly a week to get through because it was just so hard to capture my attention. It wasn’t until around 70% that had my attention and I finished the book in one sitting. The twists were interesting but seemed to come out of nowhere logical. It being so short there wasn’t enough time to build the characters (and at least make one of them likable) and build the story and suspense. In the end, Stephanie grew a backbone and I hope she’s moving on trying to start over cause her boys are clearly lost causes. 

I love Riri so much! She is really coming into her own and I love watching her journey. I hope there’s more characters and friends in her future though! It’s just her and all these adults, I hope she makes friends! She deserves it. I think the plot is fun, too. 

Hades is such a dumb dork and I love him so much and doesn’t deserve to be treated like he’s worthless and unloveable! I just want to hug him! This series just addresses so many serious topics but in a realistic way as well as the healing process after trauma. I can appreciate the work gone into this series. Minthe is just the worst! I also like that Hades’ and Persephone’s relationship is a slow growth of a friend/crush to lovers. It is SLOW but it’s like a natural, realistic development of a romantic relationship where they’re growing as insidiously and addressing their past trauma. 

Just a great series! I love Eros and Hades is such a dork! And Persephone is such a cinnamon roll and I will have my vengeance on Apollo. I appreciate the reflection on Hades’ and Persephone’s separate traumas and the struggles they face on their path to healing. I need more!!

I really like this series! I wish the whole thing was already printed! I’m anxious to continue! Persephone and Hades’ love story is my favorite! I really like this modern take on it! Persephone is sweet and funny and Hades is such a dork! Such a wholesome story.