[ 4.5 🌟 ]

I'm feeling so much, yet I can't articulate what exactly I'm feeling. This book has made me even more determined to read all the diverse stories out there (Natasha was born in Jamaica and moved to New York, and Daniel is Korean-American) because there are so many narratives that would be missed out on if I didn't.

I liked the strength of both Natasha and Daniel's voices. The stark difference between their opinions of "love" provided an interesting and new sort of tension to the novel. As I was reading, I had a chance to reflect on my own opinion. I realized that I'm a combination between Natasha and Daniel: I carry around her cynical and questioning side while also, occasionally, falling into the "hopeless romantic" category that Daniel proudly situates himself in.

I especially loved the unique structure of The Sun is Also A Star . The various "histories" gave insight into some of the minor characters who actually held a vital piece to the resolution of the story. It was something I had never seen before, and, honestly, I may try a writing exercise that uses this kind of structure.

Natasha and Daniel's complicated feelings about their backgrounds put into words a lot of what I have felt before. I consider myself Chinese-American, but I was born in China. There are many times when I have questioned my "American-ness" because of it. Natasha and Daniel, but particularly Daniel, struggle through similar things. It was nice to see a story that I connected with beyond the emotional. I could connect on an experience level.

Overall, I highly, highly recommend!

[ 4.5 🌟 ]

I started reading this book late last night, and I finished it this morning! If you’re ever in need of a warm, geeky hug, this is the book for you. Readers see the characters struggle and overcome, and all I wanted to do was be right there besides them, cheering them on.

Jen Wilde (the author) said in an interview: “At the end of the day, I wrote the book I wanted to read, the book that would have saved me when I was a teenager and felt like I was broken, and I hope readers who’ve always felt ignored or misrepresented see themselves in these pages.”

[ 3.75 🌟 ]

I personally have somewhat high standards for mysteries, mostly because my rating/feeling of the book is generally reflective of how the book ends.

I really liked the two storylines: one takes place in 1936 to about 1938 as a buildup to the original Ellingham crime, while the second follows Stevie Bell who attends the Ellingham Academy and pursues the cold case.

I don’t have many strong feelings on Stevie. She was a relatively interesting and likable character. I especially liked how the author represented her anxiety and anxiety attacks. I haven’t read many books in which a character struggles with anxiety, yet it is not the main focus of the story.

The romance threw me...a lot. It felt out of place and kinda of just dropped in there. I wanted to see where the crime(s) led to, and if Stevie was able to untangle them. To a certain extent, she sort of did by the end of the novel. However, the book leaves off on a cliffhanger, which I definitely did not appreciate. I will be reading the next books in the series, but really only to satisfy my curiosity about the one who calls themselves “Truly Devious” and find out who was behind the Ellingham crimes.

[ 4.5🌟 ]

I forgot how much I enjoyed Marissa Meyer’s stories! It took me a little longer to finish Renegades (thanks to a holiday cold), but I was totally absorbed by Nova and Adrian’s narratives and the world that Marissa built. I especially liked how Renegades showed the gray area of “good” and “evil”; those we consider superheroes and those we see as villains. There isn’t a lot of action action in this book; there’s some moments when things are being blown up, but otherwise, the story is told with a steady pace. Max’s background intruiged me the most, and I wonder how Marissa will build upon it. I sort of guessed what was going to happen in the end, but it was more of a sneaking suspicion than any solid guess. I think I’ll end up returning to this story multiple times, as I have with the Lunar Chronicles.

[ 5🌟 ]

These are my (sometimes incoherent) thoughts on AEITA!

-first off trigger warnings: rape (stay away if this in any way triggers you), mass murder, violence

-world building is fabulous

*based on the Roman Empire (and one can tell)

*could picture the setting, which does not happen often or as clearly as I was picturing the Empire that Tahir built

-effortless diversity !!! brown characters as the leads (and this book was published back in 2015)

-Blackcliff = scary

-Commandment = terrifying

*were moments however, when I was not nervous/scared for the characters ; it was as if the fear/terror they felt had melded into their being

-twists and turns ; I wanted the last book (which has not even been given a release date) before I was halfway through An Ember in the Ashes

*I was pulled through the novel. There is no other way to put it. I wanted to more; I wanted to know what happened to the characters (although I sort of spoiled myself by reading the blurb for A Reaper at the Gates since I had not reached the point in An Ember in the Ashes where the new Emperor and Blood Shrike were announced)

-Sabaa Tahir is an evil genius, and she makes her characters suffer. She forces them to face their weaknesses, their worst fears, thus, striking fear into her poor readers

-It is hard to choose a favorite character: since there is a small-ish cast of characters, Tahir delves into each of them. Even some of Helene and Elias' friends: we know their personalities; we know their fears because Blackcliff and the Trials, especially, capitalize on them

-the "evil" characters are not just evil because. They have depth and a backstory to them that Tahir reveals slowly

-well-developed novel --> sure, the popular YA tropes like a love triangle (but like not really?) shows up, but Tahir builds such a unique story and provides depth for her characters that it felt completely new to me

-ELIAS

*Sabaa, can you just let this poor guy live? Lol nope

-incredibly human : the good sides and the bad sides

*ambition, tough loyalty, obedience, kindness, compassion, determination, betrayal, death, living with grief, struggling to remain true to yourself while everyone else around you is doing something that goes against who you are as a person and your beliefs, FAMILY (this becomes even more important in A Torch Against the Night)

-family, ultimately, drives the story

-also, this novel is very quotable

*"As long as there is life, there is hope."

*“You are an ember in the ashes, Elias Veturius. You will spark and burn, ravage and destroy. You cannot change it. You cannot stop it.” 

*“You are full, Laia. Full of life and dark and strength and spirit. You are in our dreams. You will burn, for you are an ember in the ashes.”

**sobs just a little bit**

I highly recommend AEITA to those who love SJM's books!

[ 5 🌟 ]

ALL THE STARS

I’M FINE IT’S FINE EVERYTHING IS FINE I’M NOT FINE


Let’s see if a full review is even possible after I’ve deciphered what my screams mean.

Nevermind, a full review is not possible. I’m still reeling.

[ 5🌟 ]

(It should be noted that this novel takes place between 1997-1998. I didn’t realize this until more than halfway through the novel. Also, please not that I read Little Fires Everywhere on my kindle, so when I do quote something, it’s the kindle page.)

I remember seeing Little Fires Everywhere on bookstagram once it was published. In 2017, I wasn’t really venturing into adult fiction; I was content with the YA fantasy novels I was reading. To be honest, I wasn’t remotely interested in reading Little Fires Everywhere. That is until, I reread the synopsis (I had seen something about it on Instagram again) and realized that a major point in the plot revolved around the adoption of a Chinese-American baby. I only occasionally mention this, but I was adopted from China when I was eleven months old, and besides Little Fires Everywhere, I don’t really see the topic of adoption (especially international adoption) being discussed. Since it’s such a crucial part of my identity, it’s a bit odd not seeing stories that you can relate to on such a personal level. 

Before I began writing my review, I peeked at some of the reviews on Goodreads. Honestly, I think that enjoying Little Fires Everywhere depends on whether the reader likes Celeste Ng’s writing style. This novel focuses more on character study than being heavily plot-driven. I personally loved how Ng was able to transition from one character’s perspective to another; it was kind of like following a character to see their side of the story and then changing perspective to that of the other character (or characters) interacting with that first character. It’s proving difficult to explain, but this technique has an amazing effect. One day, it would be fun to do a writing exercise with this kind of style. 

As I perused other Goodreads reviews, I noticed the lack of discussion on the dividing point within the story: the trial over Mirabelle/May Ling and who should raise her—the wealthy, white couple with the stable household who was in the process of adopting her or her birth mother who had been left with no other choice but to leave her two month old daughter at a fire station because of the situation she was in at the time. This plot point made the people in Shaker Heights choose sides and even divided families, such as the Richardsons, who the novel the follows. Little Fires Everywhere forces the characters—and the readers as a result—to contemplate what constitutes as a family and, as an extension of that, what makes someone a mother. Is it biology? Is it love? Is it both? I will be briefly discussing the conversation that went down in the courtroom, so beware of spoilers, but I will mark when those spoilers begin and end. To me, it was such an important moment, that I have to talk about it. I connected with it on an incredibly personal level. 


THE MIRABELLE/MAY LING DEBATE

My first highlight was the line where someone said that “her [Mirabelle/May Ling] name isn’t even really Mirabelle McCullough, for god’s sake” (7). I SCREAMED (internally). There’s no other way to put it. On a similar note, it really bothered me that the McCulloughs didn’t even try to include part of her given name into her name. Couldn’t they have named her Mirabelle May (Ling) instead of Mirabelle Rose? They erased an important part of her history and identity by giving her such a white name. 

On a personal note, my parents kept the name I was given at the orphanage, and it’s my middle name. My Chinese heritage/birth is not separated from the name I was given in America. I am both parts. Sure, I remember not liking my middle name because it was so different from those around me who had middle names like Rose or Marie, and so I once told someone that the “N” (my middle initial) stood for Nancy. Now, I’m very proud of my middle name. I love how it means “orchid memory” and that meaning has only grown as I’ve gotten older.

There's another line that really bothered me (but in a good way because people actually voice these kinds of questions): “How can you know it’s her birthday?” That’s also quite a sensitive topic and something I often find myself contemplating. But sometimes, it’s best to leave certain questions alone for a little while. 

And there's yet another line that had me internally screaming. It's something Mrs. McCullough said about naming their child: “We felt it was more appropriate to give her a new name to celebrate the start of her new life.” (132) This connects to the middle name comment: they’re deleting part of her identity. When she’s older, it will be her choice whether to keep that part, but until then, I think it would have been better if they tried to intersect the identities (her Chinese side and the American side where she would be growing up in a wealthy suburban area). I honestly question the McCulloughs logic at this point.

Ng adds complexity to the debate by showing the stories of the adoptive family as well, so that readers can form their own opinions. There are many nuances, and there is no one answer.


THE "WHITE SAVIOR"

I'm very glad that Ng addresses the “white savior complex” through Little Fires Everywhere because IT’S A HUGE PROBLEM. In the novel, the supporters of the McCulloughs believed that the couple were "giving an unwanted child a better life. They were heroes, breaking down racism through cross-cultural adoption.” (173) First of all, Mirabelle/May Ling was, in fact, NOT unwanted. But you’ll just have to read the novel to find out more about that My thoughts are all over the place for this second sentence, and there’s actual steam coming from my ears so I’m just going to leave it here. 

THE COURTROOM 

replace "post" with section
During the private trial, Ed Lim, Bebe’s lawyer, asks Mrs. McCullough questions on whether she and her husband know anything about Chinese culture or Chinese history. Mrs. McCullough, in response, says that she and her husband will make sure that their daughter maintains a connection to her birth culture, but when Ed Lim asks, how, Mrs. McCullough is silent. Later, she mentions that the “Pearl of the Orient [a restaurant] is one of our very favorite restaurants. We try to take her there once a month.” (296) Okay, first of all, “orient” is now the incorrect word to use, and second of all, there’s a huge difference between American Chinese food and actual Chinese food. 

Then, there's the conversation where Mrs. McCullough tells the judge/Ed Lim that they were deciding on a bear, and they picked the panda bear. They thought “perhaps she’d [Mirabelle/May Ling] feel more of a connection to it” (297). SHE’S NEVER SEEN A PANDA BEAR NOR A BROWN BEAR NOR A POLAR BEAR IN HER ENTIRE LIFE SHE'S BARELY A YEAR OLD.

And the second-hand embarrassment continues! Mrs. McCullough is questioned about the dolls that Mirabelle/May Ling has. Mrs. McCullough responds (after not really getting the question which prompted Ed Lim to ask what the doll's eye colors were): “You look at the toy aisle—most dolls are blond with blue eyes. I mean, that’s just the default.” At this, she tried to backtrack: “They just want to make a generic little girl. You know, one that will appeal to everyone.” 

I  W A S  S C R E A M I N G (I don’t think I can say much more on this). I never truly understood how important it is to have something that reflects the way you look until now when I read stories like Little Fires Everywhere which spark a, usually unexpected, familiarity with the situation. At the point that the story is set, there weren’t even Chinese Barbie dolls. This small conversation emphasizes how important it is for, say literature (but honestly insert any form of media), that tells many different stories about many different kinds of people. 

As the last note for this section, I pretty much highlighted the entire conversation that occurred in the courtroom. 


***SPOILERS OVER***


CHARACTER STUDY

I find character studies fascinating. Yes, I also love the wild twists and turns often found in the fantasy books I read, but there’s something about sitting down and getting a holistic picture of a character. A reader can see who they are in the they way the speak, the way they think (and since Ng uses the omniscient third person, readers get a good look into their thoughts), how they make decisions. There were definitely points when each of the character’s annoyed me, particularly Mrs. Richardson, but I wasn’t really reading because I connected (or liked) the characters. I was curious about the choices they would make and the stories they had to tell.

However, Mrs. Richardson, in particular, made me think about how I view my own life. Like Shaker Heights, the town I grew up in emphasized education and going to college. In fact, the high school is at the center of the town. My class and the classes before it and after it are expected to get into a (good) college directly after graduation. A lot of people eventually come back after having families of their own. I guess, one day, I would like kids, but I can’t help thinking if I’m much different from Mrs. Richardson who planned out that she would go to college, get a job with a newspaper, get married, and have kids. Little Fires Everywhere made me actually think about how I thought about my life and where it may take me. At this point, I know I would love to travel but that involves making money, and it would nice to have a job I at least semi-enjoyed. But then again, do I really want every step of my life planned out for me?


WRITING STYLE & OTHER THOUGHTS

I really liked Ng’s style of occasionally looking into the future (this is also difficult to explain) but only for a few sentences. Readers can see the impact of a character’s choice that they made in the present. I also liked how Ng structured the story. She started from the ending events in the beginning and then looped back to that point in the end. Ng went a little beyond the full-circle point in order to give readers a glimpse into what happens to the characters.

I can see why this book would make a good book club book because of all the discussion questions it brings up. The debate over Mirabelle/May Ling would probably prove to produce good conversations as different readers take different perspectives on the subject. I highly recommend reading Celeste Ng’s interviews in the back and skim through the discussion questions in the back of the book. It’s a good way to contemplate and digest what you read in Little Fires Everywhere. 

Little Fires Everywhere explores the black and white division of “right” and “wrong,” the nuance of humanity and life, second chances and mistakes, the changing of beliefs and the evolution of a human life.

All in all, if you like Celeste Ng’s writing style and don’t mind a more character-driven story, read this incredible novel!

[ 4.5 🌟 ]

*note: I received an e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

To write my reviews, especially if I’m reading on my kindle, I look back on what I’ve highlighted. For The Princess & the Fangirl, one of the first highlights was commentary on Hollywood through Jessica Stone’s perspective. It really makes you re-evaluate at how you look at the idols of society. Sometimes it’s difficult to remember that they are people, too.

On a similar thread, Poston also contemplates the good side and the bad side of social media. On one hand you can make some incredible connections that would not have been possible if it were not for social media (I can attest to this), but then, since people are anonymous behind their screens and their usernames, one has the potential to be cruel to others because that anonymity protects them. At the same time, Poston stresses how internet friends are valid and very much so real. One does have to be cautious about what they’re putting out there but similar interests can lead to friendships that are not limited by time or distance.

THE CHARACTERS. I love them all (to varying degrees, of course), and I need to protect them. Plus, it’s amazing that Imogen’s nickname is Monster; I love that! Ashley Poston writes such developed (and wholesome) characters, which was evident in Geekerella, and even more so in The Princess & the Fangirl! The book is a little over 300 pages (according to the e-ARC), but I have such a clear picture of each one of the characters, probably because Poston creates such diverse and unique cast. The characters are similar in their own ways, but, ultimately, they are all different with their own wants, desires, and insecurities, and that is refreshing to see. Plus, the hate-to-love trope showed up, and I’m definitely here for that😏.

It was so great to see Darien, Elle, Sage, and Calliope again!! When I first say Elle’s name, I was like, ELLE!!! (Geekerella has such a special place in my heart that I was not even able to fully express my thoughts in a review).

What particularly struck me about Poston’s writing was how relatable it is. I felt it in Geekerella, and The Princess & the Fangirl was no different. I highlighted so many things Imogen said about her insecurities. I had not even thought about this aspect of myself, but once she expressed how she sometimes felt like “nobody,” I realized that I definitely have those kinds of thoughts and feelings as well. It took a book character and a brilliant author to make me face some of the insecurities I have about myself ( I tend to push my fears deep down and ignore them, which is not healthy, please don’t do this).

Some other random(ish) thoughts: Ashley Poston mentions J-pop!! I’m more into k-pop but I have heard of J-pop!

Also, I can’t write a review about The Princess & the Fangirl without mentioning the nerdiness!! The Once Upon a Con books always have a center message: Be proud of your nerdiness! (but I do now really have to watch Star Wars and Star Trek)

I can’t wait to see what else Ashley Poston has in store for the Geekerella Fairytales/the Once Upon a Con books because these stories are such a love letter to nerdiness and cons and fandoms, and they always make my heart so happy in such a special way (as in I feel like my heart is going to explode from the joy and all the smiles)! The fun and geeky (with a dash of romantic) books are always balanced with hard-hitting realness with Ashley Poston, and I think that is what makes these stories even more unique.

Thank you to Netgalley and Quirk Books for letting me read The Princess & the Fangirl early!

[ 4.5🌟 ]

I...hope I can write a full review for this book!! Truly an incredible story!!

[ 5🌟 ]

I have no words, yet I want to write all the words. I don’t know how to describe The Poet X, and how closely I now hold this story to my heart. A must-read.