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nerdinthelibrary's Reviews (926)
January 2025 Reread: “Katharine really was an excellent student. A little reserved, and a little overly fond of looking for loopholes, but still, an excellent student.”
This is my fourth read of a book that I would probably put in my top ten books ever, and yet it's only on this read that the significance of this early line hit me. The way that Lundy's devestating downfall is planted from the very beginning is just... Seanan McGuire, the writer you are. I also think it's masterful the way that Mockery is written. You never meet her, she's only mentioned once and then she dies. From that moment on, she exists only as a dear friend who Lundy mourns, and despite not knowing anything of her other than her name, her death hurts. Just truly incredible stuff.
Review also found on my blog.
1) Every Heart a Doorway ★★★★
2) Down Among the Sticks and Bones ★★★★
3) Beneath the Sugar Sky ★★★★★
content warnings: bullying, violence, body horror (people turning into birds), loss of a loved one
This is my fourth read of a book that I would probably put in my top ten books ever, and yet it's only on this read that the significance of this early line hit me. The way that Lundy's devestating downfall is planted from the very beginning is just... Seanan McGuire, the writer you are. I also think it's masterful the way that Mockery is written. You never meet her, she's only mentioned once and then she dies. From that moment on, she exists only as a dear friend who Lundy mourns, and despite not knowing anything of her other than her name, her death hurts. Just truly incredible stuff.
Review also found on my blog.
1) Every Heart a Doorway ★★★★
2) Down Among the Sticks and Bones ★★★★
3) Beneath the Sugar Sky ★★★★★
content warnings: bullying, violence, body horror (people turning into birds), loss of a loved one
“Following the rules didn't make you a good person, just like breaking them didn't make you a bad one, but it could make you an invisible person, and invisible people got to do as they liked.”
I genuinely think I would lay down my life to get a copy of every single Seanan McGuire book, past and present. She's just such an incredibly masterful storyteller and I literally cannot get over it.
The fourth book in the Wayward Children series is a prequel book about Katherine Lundy, who at age six walks through a doorway to the Goblin Market. The book follows her over the years, as she continues to go between their world and ours, as well as her learning about fair value.
I love absolutely everything about this book, but three things in particular 1) McGuire's writing, 2) Lundy's character, and 3) the themes.
First, McGuire's writing. It's definitely not revolutionary to say that Seanan McGuire is a fantastic writer; she's won as many awards as she has for a reason. Her descriptions, her dialogue, her characterisation, everything is written to absolute perfection. There's a reason why I'm always excited to read one of her books, and it's not just because they all have amazing premises.
Number two, Lundy, who I'm pretty sure is me. She's a very quiet, intelligent person who realised very early that it was better to isolate herself because no one likes hanging out with the principal's daughter. The Logic world of the Goblin Market appeals to her perfectly, populated with people who don't know her and she can open up around. I've seen several reviewers say that they believe Lundy could be on the autism spectrum, and that definitely my personal headcanon. I also love seeing her character development from the first time she goes to the Goblin Market all the way to the last time, particularly how the interactions with her father changes.
And finally, the themes, in particular the theme of fair value. The Goblin Market believes in fairness, that for everything you give you should receive something equal in return. It acknowledges context though; it knows when people are too young or too old to give the same as they are get, it knows when when someone doesn't have a lot to give, it knows when someone has already given so much. I can definitely see the Goblin Market being the land I would end up in if I were to go through a magical door.
In conclusion, Seanan McGuire's books (and this series in particular) continue to be perfection, and I already want an ARC of the fifth book right now.
3.5
content warnings: homophobia, violence, murder
representation: main m/m relationship
Okay, I've decided to rewrite my original review because after listening to the audiobook version of this I liked it a lot more. The first time I read it I thought giving it 3 stars was way too generous, now I'm bumping it up to a 3.5.
We all know the story so I'm not even going to bother explaining it to you. The important thing for you to know is that the movie is one of my favourite film's ever made and it means a whole fucking lot to me. I stand by my original assessment that this is still fairly rushed and that it being turned into a feature-length film that fleshed out a lot of things just said in throwaway comments was the best thing for it. Despite that, the story made me feel a lot more things the second time around and I was able to appreciate how beautiful Annie Proulx's writing is.
I still think that people who have seen the movie can get a lot more out of this than those who haven't, but I would still recommend it. I think that the audiobook is probably the way to go; it's only an hour long and the narrator does a really good job.
content warnings: homophobia, violence, murder
representation: main m/m relationship
“The shirt seemed heavy until he saw there was another shirt inside it, the sleeves carefully worked down inside Jack’s sleeves. It was his own plaid shirt, lost, he’d thought, long ago in some damn laundry, his dirty shirt, the pocket ripped, buttons missing, stolen by Jack and hidden here inside Jack’s own shirt, the pair like two skins, one inside the other, two in one.”
Okay, I've decided to rewrite my original review because after listening to the audiobook version of this I liked it a lot more. The first time I read it I thought giving it 3 stars was way too generous, now I'm bumping it up to a 3.5.
We all know the story so I'm not even going to bother explaining it to you. The important thing for you to know is that the movie is one of my favourite film's ever made and it means a whole fucking lot to me. I stand by my original assessment that this is still fairly rushed and that it being turned into a feature-length film that fleshed out a lot of things just said in throwaway comments was the best thing for it. Despite that, the story made me feel a lot more things the second time around and I was able to appreciate how beautiful Annie Proulx's writing is.
I still think that people who have seen the movie can get a lot more out of this than those who haven't, but I would still recommend it. I think that the audiobook is probably the way to go; it's only an hour long and the narrator does a really good job.
content warnings: transphobia, misgendering
representation: trans gay main character, main m/m relationship, bisexual side characters
“Sometimes you have to reclaim it,” he mutters. “Because it gets rubbed in your face either way.”
This was super cute!! Coffee Boy is about Kieran, a trans guy who's interning at a politician's campaign office. His supervisor is the surly but cute Seth who is kind of in love with their boss, Marcus, and complicated feelings ensue from there.
My teeth are now rotten because of how sweet this was. The romance between Kieran and Seth could have been iffy because of the power dynamic but Austin Chant ended up making it work. I also loved the discussions in here of reclaiming the word queer, being trans in the workplace and coming out at different times in life. The trans rep is also #ownvoices, and I've never read anything non-YA that featured #ownvoices trans rep so this was really interesting for me, a cis person.
There's honestly not much more I can say other than it was cute and had an age difference, which we all know is my kryptonite, and I would highly recommend it. I have Peter Darling on hold at the library and I am hyped.
representation: trans gay main character, main m/m relationship, bisexual side characters
“Sometimes you have to reclaim it,” he mutters. “Because it gets rubbed in your face either way.”
This was super cute!! Coffee Boy is about Kieran, a trans guy who's interning at a politician's campaign office. His supervisor is the surly but cute Seth who is kind of in love with their boss, Marcus, and complicated feelings ensue from there.
My teeth are now rotten because of how sweet this was. The romance between Kieran and Seth could have been iffy because of the power dynamic but Austin Chant ended up making it work. I also loved the discussions in here of reclaiming the word queer, being trans in the workplace and coming out at different times in life. The trans rep is also #ownvoices, and I've never read anything non-YA that featured #ownvoices trans rep so this was really interesting for me, a cis person.
There's honestly not much more I can say other than it was cute and had an age difference, which we all know is my kryptonite, and I would highly recommend it. I have Peter Darling on hold at the library and I am hyped.
representation: mlm main characters, m/m/f relationship
Good lord, I already have a new favourite smutty author, and this is just a novella. This follows a bartender who goes out for drinks with a friend on her twenty-third birthday and meets two guys there who are both interested in her. Things go from there.
Most of this is just flirting at a bar proceeded by incredible marathon sex, all of which is written pretty close to flawlessly. The fact that Katee Robert can make me squirm just by having these three flirt in a public place is incredible. Don't worry, they also have some lowkey sexy times in said public place, which we all know I'm about.
But this book isn't just sex. There's at least 5% that's dedicated to plot, and that plot seems super fucking interesting. I won't ruin it but it has to do with a secret the two guys have, and it makes me super excited for the rest of the series. This is free on Kindle right now and I think you should go out and read it right now.
“She opened her eyes and met Galen’s gaze as her orgasm spiraled closer and closer. A challenge. I’ll get what I want, and you’ll have to watch while it happens, knowing you could have been a part of it.”
Good lord, I already have a new favourite smutty author, and this is just a novella. This follows a bartender who goes out for drinks with a friend on her twenty-third birthday and meets two guys there who are both interested in her. Things go from there.
Most of this is just flirting at a bar proceeded by incredible marathon sex, all of which is written pretty close to flawlessly. The fact that Katee Robert can make me squirm just by having these three flirt in a public place is incredible. Don't worry, they also have some lowkey sexy times in said public place, which we all know I'm about.
But this book isn't just sex. There's at least 5% that's dedicated to plot, and that plot seems super fucking interesting. I won't ruin it but it has to do with a secret the two guys have, and it makes me super excited for the rest of the series. This is free on Kindle right now and I think you should go out and read it right now.
This isn't at all what I was expecting, and I mean that in the best way possible. I read Brandy Bush's other book The Roommate a few weeks ago and fell head over heels in love with it, immediately desperate to read her other book. The Roommate is an absolutely filthy book and I expected her next book to be much the same, but The Nanny surprised me. Don't get me wrong, there are moments where it is just as filthy as her previous book, even if it is less taboo, but this book as a whole is much sweeter in the best ways possible. It's about halfway through the book before anything even remotely sexy happens but I didn't care because I had instantly fallen in love with the characters and their lives, so when the sex started it was a pleasant addition but honestly if the book hadn't been smutty I don't think it would have diminished it at all. Brandy Bush is now a top tier erotica author for me and I truly cannot wait for their next book.
content warning: infidelity
We all know my undying love for TJR, evidenced by the fact that the three novels of hers I've read have all gotten five stars from me. Apparently even when writing a novella that barely cracks a hundred pages she still manages to get a five star out of me!
As I said, this is a novella that genuinely took me about thirty minutes to read. The entire novella is told in letters, predominantly the correspondents of a man and woman who discover that their spouses are cheating on them with each other. A very In the Mood For Love situation. And just like with In the Mood For Love, I absolutely loved this.
TJR's writing is incredible, and it especially shines here. Most of the letters we read come from Carrie and David, the two being cheated on, but we do read a few from their spouses to each other. And all four of these peoples' voices were so distinctive that even without them all being written in a different font I think I would have instantly been able to pick up on what was happening.
The concept of this novella isn't groundbreaking - the aforementioned In the Mood For Love that plays with the same concept came out almost two decades ago - but what makes this stand out from others like it is the characters and the relationships. As with most of these stories, the two who are being cheated on and begin confiding in each other form a bond that has come from the strangest of circumstances. It's a bond that isn't quite a friendship and always feels like it could be something more. And I ate it up.
There are little twists here and there that I probably should have seen coming but I was so engrossed in this that I didn't take a second to think of where the story could be going, I just let it take me. The final lines of this novella are some of the best I've ever read, and I'm so glad I finally picked this up. To anyone who needs a fantastic read, especially a short one, I would highly recommend this.
“Lying has just become so much easier than telling the truth. I don’t remember when things got so hard. But life has been a matter of keeping our heads above water for years now.”
We all know my undying love for TJR, evidenced by the fact that the three novels of hers I've read have all gotten five stars from me. Apparently even when writing a novella that barely cracks a hundred pages she still manages to get a five star out of me!
As I said, this is a novella that genuinely took me about thirty minutes to read. The entire novella is told in letters, predominantly the correspondents of a man and woman who discover that their spouses are cheating on them with each other. A very In the Mood For Love situation. And just like with In the Mood For Love, I absolutely loved this.
TJR's writing is incredible, and it especially shines here. Most of the letters we read come from Carrie and David, the two being cheated on, but we do read a few from their spouses to each other. And all four of these peoples' voices were so distinctive that even without them all being written in a different font I think I would have instantly been able to pick up on what was happening.
The concept of this novella isn't groundbreaking - the aforementioned In the Mood For Love that plays with the same concept came out almost two decades ago - but what makes this stand out from others like it is the characters and the relationships. As with most of these stories, the two who are being cheated on and begin confiding in each other form a bond that has come from the strangest of circumstances. It's a bond that isn't quite a friendship and always feels like it could be something more. And I ate it up.
There are little twists here and there that I probably should have seen coming but I was so engrossed in this that I didn't take a second to think of where the story could be going, I just let it take me. The final lines of this novella are some of the best I've ever read, and I'm so glad I finally picked this up. To anyone who needs a fantastic read, especially a short one, I would highly recommend this.
Review also posted to my blog.
content warnings: biphobia, misogyny
representation: bisexual main character, main character of colour, main interracial f/m relationship
On the surface, this is the perfect novella for me, but there were some little things that really made me not crazy about it.
This follows Moira and Rhys, a married witchy couple who are having issues with weird shit happening around their house that neither know the cause of. This causes a strain on their relationship and they end up using friends of Rhys to try to solve the mystery of what's going on, leading to further strain.
On paper, I should love this. I'm a sucker for a genre book/movie to turn out to be a family drama under the fantastical elements (see: Deadpool 2, A Quiet Place). But there were some choices in this that soured it for me in a way that made me not appreciate the marital drama elements as much.
But first I'll talk about some things I did like. Firstly, I really enjoyed the writing. It's simple and not overly wordy, but can get flowery when need be. I think the decision to have dual narratives, one in the present and one showing us Moira and Rhys getting to know each other, was a really good choice because it only furthered endeared us to their relationship.
I also really enjoyed both the characters, Rhys especially. The exploration of them, their relationship, and their magic was all really well done and I appreciated how the author used the flashbacks to flesh all of that out more, as well as doing some good, subtle worldbuilding.
The overall message of the novella was really nice, too. So often married couples in all types of media are shown to have super unhealthy relationships for the sake of drama, and I was happy to see something where the whole point was that the couple should be honest with one another and have open communication.
The pacing was great for the most part, but I thought it started to lag as we approached the climax of the book. And now we're into the negatives. For one, Moira and Rhys ended up being the only characters I liked. I get that we're not meant to like David in the sense of thinking that he's a good dude, but with a lowkey antagonistic character I at least want to enjoy them when they're around. And all the other characters just really fell flat.
One of my least favourites aspects of this book is a minor spoiler, so you've been warned.
Overall, it was a fun novella that I thought dragged at the end. I would still recommend for anyone looking for something good, quick and witchy.
content warnings: biphobia, misogyny
representation: bisexual main character, main character of colour, main interracial f/m relationship
“Magic is a technology [...] It’s neither good nor bad; just a neutral skill to be used by a competent practitioner. Who you glorify with that skill, who you hurt or help, is up to you. The way I see it God didn’t ban learning how to read or how to make bricks, so why this?”
On the surface, this is the perfect novella for me, but there were some little things that really made me not crazy about it.
This follows Moira and Rhys, a married witchy couple who are having issues with weird shit happening around their house that neither know the cause of. This causes a strain on their relationship and they end up using friends of Rhys to try to solve the mystery of what's going on, leading to further strain.
On paper, I should love this. I'm a sucker for a genre book/movie to turn out to be a family drama under the fantastical elements (see: Deadpool 2, A Quiet Place). But there were some choices in this that soured it for me in a way that made me not appreciate the marital drama elements as much.
But first I'll talk about some things I did like. Firstly, I really enjoyed the writing. It's simple and not overly wordy, but can get flowery when need be. I think the decision to have dual narratives, one in the present and one showing us Moira and Rhys getting to know each other, was a really good choice because it only furthered endeared us to their relationship.
I also really enjoyed both the characters, Rhys especially. The exploration of them, their relationship, and their magic was all really well done and I appreciated how the author used the flashbacks to flesh all of that out more, as well as doing some good, subtle worldbuilding.
The overall message of the novella was really nice, too. So often married couples in all types of media are shown to have super unhealthy relationships for the sake of drama, and I was happy to see something where the whole point was that the couple should be honest with one another and have open communication.
The pacing was great for the most part, but I thought it started to lag as we approached the climax of the book. And now we're into the negatives. For one, Moira and Rhys ended up being the only characters I liked. I get that we're not meant to like David in the sense of thinking that he's a good dude, but with a lowkey antagonistic character I at least want to enjoy them when they're around. And all the other characters just really fell flat.
One of my least favourites aspects of this book is a minor spoiler, so you've been warned.
Spoiler
I don't understand why it was necessary for Moira to end up being lowkey biphobic. It's a really annoying trend I'm starting to notice in recent media where men are shown to be bisexual only so that their (female) partners can freak out over whether they actually love them or not. It's stupid and biphobic, and the fact that Moira came off as being justified for her biphobia really grated on me.Overall, it was a fun novella that I thought dragged at the end. I would still recommend for anyone looking for something good, quick and witchy.
content warnings: anxiety attacks
representation: fat Puerto Rican lesbian main character with anxiety, asexual panromantic main character with ADHD, interracial f/f main relationship
Sometimes you just need to read a sweet, conflict-free novella about sapphics slowly falling in love. Learning Curves follows law student Elena Mendez who one day lends her notes to Cora McLaughlin, a girl in her class. The two women quickly become friends and start to catch feels.
This novella is the equivalent of lighting some candles, sinking into a warm bath and just lying in the pleasant silence for thirty minutes. It touches on serious topics, like homophobia and learning disabilities, but all of it is just mentioned in passing and never focused on. The most serious the novella gets is when is explores Elena's anxiety, and even that isn't for very long.
Not every book needs to be all about dark and serious topics though! Sometimes it's good to read something that just makes you feel like maybe love is real because these two women are able to figure it out. Elena and Cora are absolutely adorable from the first time they meet, both clearly smitten with each other from day one but not willing to admit it. Their slow development towards a romantic relationship is so well-paced and organic feeling even though the page-count is incredibly short.
This is available on Kindle Unlimited, so if you want a fun, easy read that's guaranteed to improve your day, check it out!
representation: fat Puerto Rican lesbian main character with anxiety, asexual panromantic main character with ADHD, interracial f/f main relationship
“I bet Elena looks beautiful in the snow, Cora thought to herself, beginning to blush anew at the thought. She knew it was silly even as she thought it. Elena was beautiful no matter the weather.”
Sometimes you just need to read a sweet, conflict-free novella about sapphics slowly falling in love. Learning Curves follows law student Elena Mendez who one day lends her notes to Cora McLaughlin, a girl in her class. The two women quickly become friends and start to catch feels.
This novella is the equivalent of lighting some candles, sinking into a warm bath and just lying in the pleasant silence for thirty minutes. It touches on serious topics, like homophobia and learning disabilities, but all of it is just mentioned in passing and never focused on. The most serious the novella gets is when is explores Elena's anxiety, and even that isn't for very long.
Not every book needs to be all about dark and serious topics though! Sometimes it's good to read something that just makes you feel like maybe love is real because these two women are able to figure it out. Elena and Cora are absolutely adorable from the first time they meet, both clearly smitten with each other from day one but not willing to admit it. Their slow development towards a romantic relationship is so well-paced and organic feeling even though the page-count is incredibly short.
This is available on Kindle Unlimited, so if you want a fun, easy read that's guaranteed to improve your day, check it out!
1) Solitaire ★★★½
1.5) Nick and Charlie ★★★★
*) Heartstopper: Volume One ★★★★★
*) Heartstopper: Volume Two ★★★★★
*) Heartstopper: Volume Three ★★★★★
I need Oliver Spring to know that I would lay down my life for him.
1.5) Nick and Charlie ★★★★
*) Heartstopper: Volume One ★★★★★
*) Heartstopper: Volume Two ★★★★★
*) Heartstopper: Volume Three ★★★★★
I need Oliver Spring to know that I would lay down my life for him.