CW: Graphic Sexual Content, Racism, Colonialism,
Genre: Memoir/ Essays, Asian American, Immigrant, LGBTQIA+, Racism

I don't even know where to begin with this book. It's part essay, part memoir, part manifesto. At points, I found myself weeping at being SEEN. Ortile expertly calls out his own biases, his own issues with colonialism and internalized homophobia. As someone of indigenous Mexican descent, I find it too easy to fall in line with colonized thinking, make my self small for the comfort of others. It’s easier to be small than to question my own biases and prejudices.
The shame and hassle to be better than expressed by Ortile were a familiar garment, worn at the request of others. Ortile writes with ease and humor; The Groom Will Keep his Name flows naturally.

I couldn't go a few pages without highlighting passage after passage. I want everyone to read this book: white, Asian, immigrant, American, queer, straight, everyone.

CW: Body horror, zombies, gun violence, racism, anxiety, voodoo, ghosts, medical experimentation, colorism,limb amputation ⠀
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I listened to Dread Nation and Deathless Divide one right after the other. I find it difficult to differentiate them. Initially, I liked the world presented: a post Civil War America where zombies have taken over and Black peoples are trained to fight against the zombies. It’s gritty and feminist and a bit steampunk. ⠀
There’s a lot to glean. In Dread Nation, there’s a much heavier focus on racial injustice. It was powerful, invigorating listening to Dread Nation in June 2020. The parallels were uncanny. ⠀
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However, once into Deathless Divide I felt like the plot waned. The first half of the book was a solid 4 stars, but then it began to dragon and on. The end goal felt faint, faraway. ⠀
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What I liked about Deathless Divide:⠀
•Bi and Ace rep in a historical (ish) setting ⠀
•Anxiety presented as a physical symptom and how Katherine deals with it( tightening her corset) ⠀
•Jane and Katherine’s gradual trust and friendship⠀
•Anger as fuel for change ⠀
•Found Family ⠀
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CW: Gods, Stockholm Syndrome, Immortality, Devil/Satan, Witchcraft, Prostitution/Sex Work/Rape, Drugs
I was anticipating this to be a 5 star read, and while it wasn't, I'm not disappointed. I found that this book had slower pacing than I was expecting. If you've read any of Schwab's other books, Addie LaRue is more character focused, with a looser plot. Not a bad thing, I just found it less intriguing. The plot is meandering, turning, twisting, like a dance.

Addie as a character slowly develops over the book. I felt like I didn't get to know HER until midway through the book even though the book is from her perspective. I wanted to know more about her years alone, how she lived, what she did, her adventures and struggles.

I connected much more with the character of Henry. There were lines that stopped me cold. He broke my heart.

AND WHO IS ESTELLE?!?! I waited and waited to find out who she was, other than some kooky old village lady. I was disappointed that we didn't get any other information about her.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a Faustian light fantasy with beautiful writing. I plan on gifting a copy to a friend.

CW: Body dysmorphia, sex work, medical/surgery, suicide, pregnancy/ pregnancy loss, off page violence, mute character

If I Had Your Face is an intimate portrait of the world of young Korean women. Their world is marked by beauty and what beauty can buy or sell. From a Western standpoint, this world seemed horrifying, grim, and lonesome. I also found it fascinating that despite the pressures of beauty, marriage does not seem like a pressure until past the age of 30. It's a stark contrast to the West, where if you are not married by the age of 27, you are considered old. If I had Your Face might be extremely eye opening for readers who have never read or experienced any Korean media/culture.

I listened to this on audio, which has different narrators, but I still found it difficult to track which character was speaking.

There is not much plot, beyond the girls going through their daily life. I enjoy slice of life novels, though. Cha's writing is beautiful.

So this book took me a while to get into, but it was a quick, sweet read. I liked that there was an older love interest. Jo’s cool, elegant, and at the top of the game in her career. I pictured @themichelewang as Jo. I was slightly concerned for Jo’s constant coffee consumption, though. ⠀
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Emma was... boring. Nothing remarkable or funny. Emma felt rushed compared to Jo. I did like that we got some Jewish representation. Emma- she goes to Temple and celebrates Jewish holidays with her family. ⠀
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Is it just me or is it a thing in contemporary romances for the bff of the protagonist to be extremely successful? Avery is an amazing pastry chef, with a bakery, twins, and 3 dogs, in LA. Oh and she has time to hang out with her sister whenever.

CW: Supernatural: Goblins, grim reapers, dreams, monsters, demons, demonic possession; hospitals, illness/ injury, animal attack, parental abandonment.

I found it difficult to get into this book, even though I really enjoyed Wicked Fox. The characters felt stale and underdeveloped. The storyline was less concrete. I did enjoy the found family aspect.

Full Cast Audio, Podcast Style
CW- Murder, Pedophilia, violence, fire, stutter, implied rape, audiobook has gross swallowing sounds, sex worker, PTSD/ flashbacks, teenage drinking, foul language, self harm, suicidal ideation, knives, blood gore

This book felt gory and shocking to be ~edgy.~ I didn't connect with Sadie's drive. Everything felt very contrived. The podcast sections made Sadie's story feel even more disconnected. Do not recommend on audiobook because it includes some strange audio filters as well as some gross swallowing sounds ( supposed to be Sadie's stutter block.)

Story within a story/ soft horror/ dystopia

This book is eerie, horrifying, yet gentle like a bed time story. There are aspects that reminded me of accounts of Jewish people in hiding during WWII, which might be triggering for some. I wish we got to know the main character's name.

CW: Dystopia, memory loss, body horror, death of a parental figure, drugs/ pills, illness, police state, muteness, abuse, captivity, implied rape, extramarital affair