I was browsing my Kindle for my next read and found that I had downloaded this awhile ago but I have no memory of having done so?? Did an alien send it to my Kindle...who can say.

Anyway so I went into this with no expectations at all and got sucked in quickly, I thought the premise was really interesting and the era of early space-race history was interesting too. (I saw some reviews on here complaining it was too much historical detail but for me, it was all interesting.)

So I guess, if you are interested in that era of history I'd recommend it. If you are interested in the alien story I agree that that's sort of the backburner but I didn't mind.

ugh I feel like I've been ruined by the Harley Quinn cartoon because that's the ONLY thing I want. This is a more gothic take on the character which is fine just like, not my preference. And it's nice to see canon queer teen Ivy get a Goth girlfriend

Spoiler

even if Ivy ends up leaving town without her...at least she didn't die

. Anyway this is fine, spooky queer teens are more the intended audience than I am and I suspect they will like it more than I did. But it was fine. The art is lovely.

Ooh I really liked this! I remembered liking We Were Liars when it came out but at the time I have to admit I hadn't given too much thought to the generation of moms/aunts, but this was very compelling. It made me realize that I only barely remembered the events of We Were Liars so I went back and re-read that and this did make me think more about that generation but there really weren't many specific call-backs to this, but it tracks that this family would create those kids. like yes this is a little melodramatic I suppose but the prose is beautiful and I enjoyed reading it!

haha holy shit this book was so much, like 4 books worth of characters & drama crammed into one. (yet: not as horny as I wanted it to be tbh)

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re-read 2022 for WBS
https://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers/episode-192-catwoman-soulstealer/

honestly I think I liked it more the 2nd time around? still not as horny as I wanted it to be tho tbh

HOLY SHIT WHAT

(more TK, maybe)
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lol that was my 2014 review, more never came. I re-read this after [b:Family of Liars|59586261|Family of Liars|E. Lockhart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1636570306l/59586261._SY75_.jpg|93842189] and I do have to say that knowing ~the twist~ maybe made me enjoy it a bit less on my re-read but honestly I still dug it.

I really liked this one! It's a really smart critique of ~celebrity culture particularly surrounding minors, LGBTQ folks, and POC. (The excerpts from RPF fanfics about the boy band boys was... *chef's kiss*) I would say it's a book where the romance is definitely the B-plot to the A-plot of Hunter's general coming of age/coming of awareness, which I think is fine. I think this one is funnier and less melancholy than the Darius books but share a similar insightfulness.

I think Scott Westerfeld is so so good at understanding technology's impact on culture and it's thrilling!! I loved seeing what Tally and Shay had become! I did have to read a wiki to remember what Frey and Rafi's whole deal was but that's on me!

oh my gosh, I read this because I wanted to see what all the ~conservative backlash~ was about and I'm honestly so outraged that folks would take offense at this when it is so moving and so heartfelt. It's such a beautiful, honest look at Maia's journey and the way e struggled without any nonbinary role models, and to actively take that away from teen readers!! Knife emoji!! Of course I am betting most of the people calling to ban this have not read it and perhaps have only looked at the single panel containing a strap-on dildo but GOD IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BOOK

and like yes it's definitely written for an adult audience but older teens could definitely get so much out of this. and adults. it's gorgeous!!

I think I had read this in high school and remember thinking it was great, but I just re-read it and whew. It's great.

Also the idea of wanting to ban this over sketchy black and white mouse nudity is so absurd. Like of course the real problem is antisemitism. But to be like "it's inappropriate for my child to see a cartoon mouse without clothes on." Like are YOU some kind of mouse pervert. What are you doing.

Anyway. I don't have a hot take on Maus or anything, it's just a great artistic achievement and document to a truly fucked up historical event and its ongoing repercussions and it's fucked up that anybody is mad about mouse nudity!!! I hate it here

I couldn't believe how much I didn't know about the Donner Party. Jesus Christ this shit was HARROWING.

I liked the decision to zoom in on one particular individual of the party (Sarah Graves) while still giving added context. It was overall a pretty good balance between narrative flow and big picture stuff, and for a Westward Expansion book I thought it did an okay job of attempting to depict Native American perspectives though it wasn't the focus.

If you're interested in the Donner Party, would definitely recommend.