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pineconek's Reviews (816)
An enchanting and cozy story that explores some dark and difficult themes. I came for the cover but stayed for the love letters to the violin, deals with the devil, themes of identity and selfhood, and aliens making donuts. It reminded me the most of TJ Klune's recent books (not only because he endorsed it on the cover) and the best parts of Addie LaRue. Recommended if you want to get lost in a story.
This was a "whoops I stayed up until 3am because I want to know who the killer is" type of read, which is something I occasionally itch for. This book was a solid thriller debut provided that you're willing to suspend disbelief, which I'm personally comfy doing provided there's sufficient entertainment or payout. While this was profoundly entertaining, I'm left wanting more of certain plot aspects (although I won't spoil these).
All that said, it's getting a solid 3 stars since I enjoyed my experience reading it but don't think it's something I would recommend widely. I do however recommend it if you like straight to dvd movies with fun twists, don't mind reading about young adults (the characters are 18 through 21 or so), and want to breeze through something that'll hold your attention.
All that said, it's getting a solid 3 stars since I enjoyed my experience reading it but don't think it's something I would recommend widely. I do however recommend it if you like straight to dvd movies with fun twists, don't mind reading about young adults (the characters are 18 through 21 or so), and want to breeze through something that'll hold your attention.
File under: gorgeous cover, great premise, and a book I really wanted to like.
It was objectively fine, but with nothing really standing out for me. There wasn't enough character development or atmosphere for this to be a satisfying "nothing happens" book, so I hoped the plot would pick up... But something about it fell flat. The pacing felt all wrong, there was no sense of urgency, and I just never felt invested in what would happen next. After finishing the book, I found myself wondering what the point of the plot was - were we striving for a "coming to terms with oneself" metaphor that didn't quite pan out? I'm honestly not sure.
It's sitting at a 2.5 stars for me and I'm rounding it down to 2: it wasn't for me but I think other people may enjoy it. If the premise of a Malaysian American lesbian navigating the land of spirits and gods as well familial pressured, an LDR, and deciding what to do with her life, sounds appealing to you... Well, this is probably the only book like that that currently exists. So even though it didn't quite meet my expectations (my description makes it sound so much richer than I felt that it was), it may meet yours.
It was objectively fine, but with nothing really standing out for me. There wasn't enough character development or atmosphere for this to be a satisfying "nothing happens" book, so I hoped the plot would pick up... But something about it fell flat. The pacing felt all wrong, there was no sense of urgency, and I just never felt invested in what would happen next. After finishing the book, I found myself wondering what the point of the plot was - were we striving for a "coming to terms with oneself" metaphor that didn't quite pan out? I'm honestly not sure.
It's sitting at a 2.5 stars for me and I'm rounding it down to 2: it wasn't for me but I think other people may enjoy it. If the premise of a Malaysian American lesbian navigating the land of spirits and gods as well familial pressured, an LDR, and deciding what to do with her life, sounds appealing to you... Well, this is probably the only book like that that currently exists. So even though it didn't quite meet my expectations (my description makes it sound so much richer than I felt that it was), it may meet yours.
A great perspective on modern perceptions around sexual violence. I really appreciated the hopeful perspective of the last chapter. A bit too surface-y (and rapidly outdated, something that the author emphasizes multiple times) to warrant a full five stars but still a great read if you're interested in these types of topics.
It's migraine season with the weather changing, so I figured picking up a supposedly gripping YA mystery would distract me while I waited for the triptans to kick in. Imagine my sense of cosmic irony when I realized the narrator spends a big chunk of the book describing headaches...
Now, onto the book itself. There be mild spoilers ahead (that shouldn't ruin the initial reading experience, unless you're a spoiler purist).
The good: this is an extremely readable book. I tore through it in an evening. It kept my interest in spite of several flaws (outlined below). It was very clearly building towards a big twist which I was curious about but wasn't putting too much effort into guessing. Some folks claim it was obvious but I disagree - many of the foreshadowing hints could very easily be explained by age, wealth, and self centeredness of the characters involved.
The bad: I spent so much time reading the 1 and 2 star reviews for this book and absolutely loving them. They really highlight the major issues with the book better than I could. I think it boils down to: social commentary this book is not (I just mentally checked out of the race and class issues this book touched on tbh). Also, rich teens on a private island are fundamentally unlikeable and shallow characters, as are their romances and relationships. They don't have the brightest of ideas.
Ultimately, this just barely scrapes a 3 stars from me. I enjoyed my reading experience in the sense that it was easy to read and I was surprised by the twist. I would recommend it only if you want a quick accessible read that's plot-only (and, frankly, twist-only), enjoy unreliable teenage narrators, are willing to overlook unlikeable and flat characters, and want to cleanse your pallette of more serious reads.
Now, onto the book itself. There be mild spoilers ahead (that shouldn't ruin the initial reading experience, unless you're a spoiler purist).
The good: this is an extremely readable book. I tore through it in an evening. It kept my interest in spite of several flaws (outlined below). It was very clearly building towards a big twist which I was curious about but wasn't putting too much effort into guessing. Some folks claim it was obvious but I disagree - many of the foreshadowing hints could very easily be explained by age, wealth, and self centeredness of the characters involved.
The bad: I spent so much time reading the 1 and 2 star reviews for this book and absolutely loving them. They really highlight the major issues with the book better than I could. I think it boils down to: social commentary this book is not (I just mentally checked out of the race and class issues this book touched on tbh). Also, rich teens on a private island are fundamentally unlikeable and shallow characters, as are their romances and relationships. They don't have the brightest of ideas.
Ultimately, this just barely scrapes a 3 stars from me. I enjoyed my reading experience in the sense that it was easy to read and I was surprised by the twist. I would recommend it only if you want a quick accessible read that's plot-only (and, frankly, twist-only), enjoy unreliable teenage narrators, are willing to overlook unlikeable and flat characters, and want to cleanse your pallette of more serious reads.
For me, this lived up to the hype.
This book is basically what I wanted every "magical children live in a remote house" book to be. It's very campy and over the top in a way that may not appeal to everyone but thats very up my alley (think Edward scisccorhands). It's a uniquely pleasant audiobook experience as the narrator does voices (hilarity ensues).
Overall, I recommend this widely if you're into whimsical tales of found family and over the top characters. While there is no real moral ambiguity or twists and turns, there's enough fun tropes and quips to keep you entertained. In short, prepare yourself for a fairytale and read accordingly.
This book is basically what I wanted every "magical children live in a remote house" book to be. It's very campy and over the top in a way that may not appeal to everyone but thats very up my alley (think Edward scisccorhands). It's a uniquely pleasant audiobook experience as the narrator does voices (hilarity ensues).
Overall, I recommend this widely if you're into whimsical tales of found family and over the top characters. While there is no real moral ambiguity or twists and turns, there's enough fun tropes and quips to keep you entertained. In short, prepare yourself for a fairytale and read accordingly.
While the style only worked for me some of the time, I loved the content and themes of this book. It's a "nothing much happens" book that focuses on tenderness, race, relationships, and loneliness (among others). The second person narration demands intimacy in all moments, which didn't always pair well with certain scenes. Certain parts felt somewhat overwritten, but I feel like the things I didn't like were due to personal preference.
Recommended if you enjoy Ocean Vuong. This book shares a soul with "on earth we're briefly gorgeous" (which I also had mixed feelings about). Also recommended if you want a short book that reads like modern poetry.
Recommended if you enjoy Ocean Vuong. This book shares a soul with "on earth we're briefly gorgeous" (which I also had mixed feelings about). Also recommended if you want a short book that reads like modern poetry.
Can I just emoji review this as "sob sob heart eyes happy tears beach date sob sob".
I think I liked this one even more than the last one. I need to pace myself and not tear through them in half an hour but here we are.
I think I liked this one even more than the last one. I need to pace myself and not tear through them in half an hour but here we are.
Immensely enjoyable/sappy and I want to cry some happy tears. It's fluffy and basically what it says on the tin, and I tore through it through under an hour. The art is gorgeous and I can't wait to get my hands on the next volumes. Recommended if you enjoy coming of age shy romance.
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Really mixed feelings about this, so it's hovering at the 2.75 rounded up to 3 stars. I ultimately didn't care for the writing style (I'm a traditionalist when it comes to using correct punctuation for dialogue) and found the pacing quite slow. While the writing was rich and evocative, the plot moved very slowly and the moral felt somewhat heavy-handed.
The main thing I did enjoy was the portrait that it painted of white neighborhoods in South Africa and how self absorbed well-off white families could get. That said, reading a book where the shtick is "there's no black voices in this book when there obviously should be" reminds me a bit about that thing they say about jazz - listening for the notes that aren't there. And that's not really my thing.
Recommended if you're interested in reading about family dynamics during funerals, inheritance conflicts, and South Africa and don't mind experimental writing.
The main thing I did enjoy was the portrait that it painted of white neighborhoods in South Africa and how self absorbed well-off white families could get. That said, reading a book where the shtick is "there's no black voices in this book when there obviously should be" reminds me a bit about that thing they say about jazz - listening for the notes that aren't there. And that's not really my thing.
Recommended if you're interested in reading about family dynamics during funerals, inheritance conflicts, and South Africa and don't mind experimental writing.