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ninetalevixen
Tana French has absolutely still got it — her epics (in every sense of the word) are not about whodunnit but rather why, and nothing is ever as it seems even though the truth was staring you in the face this whole time. It felt a lot like Into the Woods, particularly around the climax, reprise, and falling action; I haven’t yet had a chance to really dig into the rest of her books so I’m not sure if they’re all like this, but I imagine that (like Jodi Picoult’s formula) it could get old. Right now, though, it rings very true to real life and I love it.
Toby is a lucky, lucky bastard (though at least he comes to realize this) even in the face of his misfortune: most particularly the long-term effects of his head injury; through his cousins, Leon and Susanna, we get a more nuanced, less rose-tinted view of the world — the former is gay, the latter is female, and by societal standards that’s reason enough to treat them poorly. This is very much a book about how external circumstances shape a person, for better and for worse; the things we do and don’t know about the people we love, and the things we’ll do for them; the nature of the bond between family and between friends and between romantic partners. Zach and Sallie are adorable in the few scenes in which they feature.
As with the DMS books, the scope of this story amazes me. Not just in the lasting effects of Toby’s head trauma and his messed-up memory, or the PTSD that leads to the second climax, or the therapy; just the quiet moments After Everything, when nothing’s the same and never will be again.
Toby is a lucky, lucky bastard (though at least he comes to realize this) even in the face of his misfortune: most particularly the long-term effects of his head injury; through his cousins, Leon and Susanna, we get a more nuanced, less rose-tinted view of the world — the former is gay, the latter is female, and by societal standards that’s reason enough to treat them poorly. This is very much a book about how external circumstances shape a person, for better and for worse; the things we do and don’t know about the people we love, and the things we’ll do for them; the nature of the bond between family and between friends and between romantic partners. Zach and Sallie are adorable in the few scenes in which they feature.
As with the DMS books, the scope of this story amazes me. Not just in the lasting effects of Toby’s head trauma and his messed-up memory, or the PTSD that leads to the second climax, or the therapy; just the quiet moments After Everything, when nothing’s the same and never will be again.
I received an advance review copy of this book for the blog tour through Xpresso Book Tours. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
Be still my heart, this is such an adorable read.
I’m a huge fan of childhood friends (in general, but also potentially becoming romantic partners) and frenemies / enemies to lovers and fake dating, so the punny title and straightforward synopsis had me hooked — and the actual story certainly didn’t disappoint. It’s pretty much exactly what it says on the metaphorical tin, and I mean that in the best possible way.
Be still my heart, this is such an adorable read.
I’m a huge fan of childhood friends (in general, but also potentially becoming romantic partners) and frenemies / enemies to lovers and fake dating, so the punny title and straightforward synopsis had me hooked — and the actual story certainly didn’t disappoint. It’s pretty much exactly what it says on the metaphorical tin, and I mean that in the best possible way.
“We’re going to date so we won’t have to date. To no more Sunday brunches.”
This story really comes to life in the details. From the mouthwatering Sunday brunch dim sum spreads to Jake’s very specific knowledge of Mia’s allergies, Nguyen fills in enough that you really get to know the characters and understand their lives, and feel like you’re really there witnessing what’s happening, though not so much that the book feels like a series of tangents or info dumps.
Although there are lots of embarrassing and/or cute childhood stories, the main focus is very much on the present — figuratively speaking, because the story is told in first-person past tense, alternating between Mia and Jake. The dual POV is well executed; Mia and Jake each have a distinct voice, and it’s delightful to watch them gradually realize their feelings toward each other are changing.
I’d forgotten that Mia was a snuggler. Ever since we were kids. During naptime in kindergarten, she would always roll from her mat onto mine. Every single time.
And the interpersonal relationships, the arguable heart of this story? Pure gold. I literally laughed out loud at the banter between Mia and Jake, their easy camaraderie despite their alleged mutual dislike even before their scheme begins. If you’ve seen that meme questioning the compatibility of a Great Romance (“Sure, your love could level cities and defy fate … but do you even like each other?”), I’m pleased to tell you that this is not the case here. For all their protesting, Mia and Jake have learned to coexist. They have an Established Dynamic.
And they each have pretty solid relationships with their mothers — not perfect of course, since a) they’re teenagers and b) their mothers ship them with their “mortal enemy” — which I always wish I saw more of in YA. Although I’d have a hard time avoiding spoilers if I wanted to talk more about how awesome the moms are, believe me, they are amazing.
On top of all this, Mia and Jake each have strong friendships to turn to, and get along well with each other’s friends. If I had dated in high school, my closest friends’ opinions of my partner would certainly have mattered to me, and I know they’re the ones who would be there for me if / when my love life went sideways; so it’s always been important to me that YA protagonists have support systems outside of their love interest(s). Mia’s and Jake’s friends are wonderfully encouraging, especially when pushing them outside their comfort zones (and urging them to admit that they’re in loooooooooove).
“You shouldn’t be so sarcastic this early in the morning. It’s bad for your digestion.”
Naturally you can’t discuss a romance without talking about the chemistry. I’ve already mentioned the playful teasing between Mia and Jake, but there’s also a strong foundation of trust and shared experiences. (Have I mentioned how much I like friends to lovers as a trope?) And in certain scenes I could really feel the sparks fly between them … in a PG-13 way, with no explicit sexual content.
Which is no small feat, because with too many YA romances or even some explicit adult books, I don’t feel anything at all while I’m reading scenes intended to be romantic. But again, that’s not the case with Fake It Till You Break It.
My life had suddenly officially turned into a K-drama.
I absolutely wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anyone who enjoys a fun, cute contemporary YA novel, as long as you don’t mind that it follows a well-worn literary path (i.e., that there aren’t many major surprises in store). There’s a great mix of sweet moments and bitter drama, the characters are incredibly likable and relatable, and seriously, I was smiling for most of the time I was reading this book.
Quotes were taken from an Advance Review Copy and may change upon publication.
>> Buddy read with Haley!
It took me a couple chapters to really get into this; there's a lot more straight science and ethics than I'm used to reading. But Chambers balances it with adventure and emotion, which kept me engaged. The characters are lovable, and their close relationships shine. The details of different planets and ecosystems are fascinating. The moral dilemmas are genuinely thought-provoking.
And the ending? I found it unsatisfying in the most satisfying way. I could read a 20-novel expansion of this, but as a novella it stands quite well on its own.
rep: bi/pan MC, WLW MC, possibly-Asian trans male MC, African (Zambian) asexual MC, F/F and (bi/pan) F/M
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CONVERSION: 12.8 / 15 = 4.5 stars
Prose: 8 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 9 / 10
Emotional Impact: 10 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 10 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: 4 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
Rereadability: 4 / 5
Memorability: 4 / 5
It took me a couple chapters to really get into this; there's a lot more straight science and ethics than I'm used to reading. But Chambers balances it with adventure and emotion, which kept me engaged. The characters are lovable, and their close relationships shine. The details of different planets and ecosystems are fascinating. The moral dilemmas are genuinely thought-provoking.
And the ending? I found it unsatisfying in the most satisfying way. I could read a 20-novel expansion of this, but as a novella it stands quite well on its own.
rep:
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CONVERSION: 12.8 / 15 = 4.5 stars
Prose: 8 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 9 / 10
Emotional Impact: 10 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 10 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: 4 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
Rereadability: 4 / 5
Memorability: 4 / 5
at least 4 stars, maybe as high as 4.5 or 5 stars?
I definitely want to reread this in a print/ebook format, since it's not completely suited to an audiobook: it's kind of hard to keep track of what's going on when the dialogue alternates with what Linda tastes for each word (not the fault of author or narrator; it's an inherent issue of the format), and I honestly can't tell whether I find the philosophizing profound or tedious.
Still, I really enjoyed the rep (Vietnamese-American transracial adoptee, synthesthete), the nonlinear storytelling that created intrigue and set up reveals without feeling melodramatic, and the recurring allusions to figures of mythology/legend. And for what it's worth, it's definitely promising that I already want to read this again!
I definitely want to reread this in a print/ebook format, since it's not completely suited to an audiobook: it's kind of hard to keep track of what's going on when the dialogue alternates with what Linda tastes for each word (not the fault of author or narrator; it's an inherent issue of the format), and I honestly can't tell whether I find the philosophizing profound or tedious.
Still, I really enjoyed the rep (Vietnamese-American transracial adoptee, synthesthete), the nonlinear storytelling that created intrigue and set up reveals without feeling melodramatic, and the recurring allusions to figures of mythology/legend. And for what it's worth, it's definitely promising that I already want to read this again!
I received a review copy for the blog tour through Xpresso Book Tours; all opinions are my own and honest.
This is a solid start to a new series that I will be following eagerly. I absolutely adore the premise, which is unlike anything I can remember reading — though it’s worth noting that the synopsis feels like it’s for the series rather than this specific book, as several of its parts are introduced only briefly and/or towards the end.
But before we really get into it, let me just bask in the worldbuilding for a hot minute. The combination of western and steampunk and fantasy, with vivid settings and complex machinery and spooky phantoms — while it could seem like a lot to balance, Ross really makes it work. The reverence for language / communication and linguists — as a bilingual linguistics major, I absolutely adored it. The questions that remain to be answered in following books — do I ever look forward to investigating them.
Plot-wise the book is a little lighter; I imagine it gets more intense as the series goes on, but this installment felt quite expository. Still, there’s a decent amount of action, balanced by some humorous scenes; although I wouldn’t consider it particularly fast-paced, it has great flow that made it hard to put the book down! And the romance doesn’t really come into play until the later chapters, which I appreciated since it gave me the chance to really explore the world and get to know the characters.
It’s no small feat to make a staunchly-by-the-rules female lead both likable and consistent, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I immediately liked Ruth. Young woman in a big world with something to prove? I can relate. (Though I swear like a sailor whereas Ruth pointedly omits curse words throughout the narrative.)
Lee Merriweather: there’s a reason the prodigal prodigy is a popular trope, and he exemplifies it. Mischievous, mysterious, dangerous … even dreamy, perhaps? I like him a lot, in case you couldn’t tell.
On the other hand, Sebastian Hardin kind of faded in and out of narrative focus, at least as far as I’m concerned. But he made a pretty strong showing as this first book closed, and good things come in threes, so I’m optimistic that he’ll round out the trio nicely as the series progresses. Even if I’m not totally sold on him as a love interest.
(My favorite character isn’t even mentioned in the synopsis, but it's.)
All in all, there is so much to enjoy in A Feast of Phantoms, and I can’t wait to see how the series unfolds.
content warnings:
rep:
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CONVERSION: 10.7 / 15 = 4 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact: 7 / 10
Development / Flow: 7 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: 3 / 5
Memorability: 4 / 5
This is a solid start to a new series that I will be following eagerly. I absolutely adore the premise, which is unlike anything I can remember reading — though it’s worth noting that the synopsis feels like it’s for the series rather than this specific book, as several of its parts are introduced only briefly and/or towards the end.
But before we really get into it, let me just bask in the worldbuilding for a hot minute. The combination of western and steampunk and fantasy, with vivid settings and complex machinery and spooky phantoms — while it could seem like a lot to balance, Ross really makes it work. The reverence for language / communication and linguists — as a bilingual linguistics major, I absolutely adored it. The questions that remain to be answered in following books — do I ever look forward to investigating them.
Plot-wise the book is a little lighter; I imagine it gets more intense as the series goes on, but this installment felt quite expository. Still, there’s a decent amount of action, balanced by some humorous scenes; although I wouldn’t consider it particularly fast-paced, it has great flow that made it hard to put the book down! And the romance doesn’t really come into play until the later chapters, which I appreciated since it gave me the chance to really explore the world and get to know the characters.
It’s no small feat to make a staunchly-by-the-rules female lead both likable and consistent, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I immediately liked Ruth. Young woman in a big world with something to prove? I can relate. (Though I swear like a sailor whereas Ruth pointedly omits curse words throughout the narrative.)
Lee Merriweather: there’s a reason the prodigal prodigy is a popular trope, and he exemplifies it. Mischievous, mysterious, dangerous … even dreamy, perhaps? I like him a lot, in case you couldn’t tell.
On the other hand, Sebastian Hardin kind of faded in and out of narrative focus, at least as far as I’m concerned. But he made a pretty strong showing as this first book closed, and good things come in threes, so I’m optimistic that he’ll round out the trio nicely as the series progresses. Even if I’m not totally sold on him as a love interest.
(My favorite character isn’t even mentioned in the synopsis, but it's
Spoiler
DocAll in all, there is so much to enjoy in A Feast of Phantoms, and I can’t wait to see how the series unfolds.
content warnings:
Spoiler
minor character death, racial terms (g*psy, N*gro), ableist language (cr*zy), non-graphic violence, bloodrep:
Spoiler
Hispanic/Romani MC, wheelchair-using secondary character, Black secondary character, Hispanic minor character (MC’s father) with possible OCD, Romani minor character (MC’s mother) with migraines, diverse minor characters-----------
CONVERSION: 10.7 / 15 = 4 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact: 7 / 10
Development / Flow: 7 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: 3 / 5
Memorability: 4 / 5
