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Naked truth: It Ends with Us was not as terrible as I was expecting it to be, but it's still pretty bad.
Seconding this review.
Not recommended.
* Buddy read with my pals, Kate and Spens.
Seconding this review.
Not recommended.
* Buddy read with my pals, Kate and Spens.
As a romcom, The Donut Trap left a lot to be desired. However, as a post-college coming-of-age story, this story is awkward (in a totally relatable way!), compelling, and utterly endearing.
Final thoughts to follow.
Verdict? Recommended!
Final thoughts to follow.
Verdict? Recommended!
Finished the audiobook but watch me pick up the ebook format ASAP.
With Nikki Sloane's books, I'm usually more than happy to just vibe and appreciate the smut for what it is.
The Pool Boy seemed lost as to what it was trying to achieve, leaving it stuck at an awkward, unfulfilling angle. It was partly insta-lust trying to be soft and romantic and partly insta-love trying to be sexy and wild. It was giving 'headstrong older woman wanting to take charge' but also 'emotionally vulnerable older woman wishing to be dominated'.
And the results of all these half-measures are the underutilized potential of the "yes, ma'am" kink and a handful of unsatisfying vanilla sex scenes.
Not recommended.
The Pool Boy seemed lost as to what it was trying to achieve, leaving it stuck at an awkward, unfulfilling angle. It was partly insta-lust trying to be soft and romantic and partly insta-love trying to be sexy and wild. It was giving 'headstrong older woman wanting to take charge' but also 'emotionally vulnerable older woman wishing to be dominated'.
And the results of all these half-measures are the underutilized potential of the "yes, ma'am" kink and a handful of unsatisfying vanilla sex scenes.
Not recommended.
Have you ever consumed a piece of media and thought it was really good, despite only half-paying attention to it? That's where I'm at right now.
If you asked me to describe the events of this book, I remember too little to provide a satisfactory answer. But I know that, despite my inattention (because I was listening to this audiobook while at work), I vibed really well with Siren Queen. And I would've loved it a lot more if I had the luxury of paying more attention.
I'll probably need to revisit this book in a more visual format to retain more of its story. But I'm still recommending it anyway. Lakompake.
Recommended!
If you asked me to describe the events of this book, I remember too little to provide a satisfactory answer. But I know that, despite my inattention (because I was listening to this audiobook while at work), I vibed really well with Siren Queen. And I would've loved it a lot more if I had the luxury of paying more attention.
I'll probably need to revisit this book in a more visual format to retain more of its story. But I'm still recommending it anyway. Lakompake.
Recommended!
✨ Girlboss gaslight gatekeep ✨ but with Asian rep.
(Listen to the audiobook!)
(Listen to the audiobook!)
Unpopular opinion coming your way:
If this were just a middle-grade superhero book, I'd probably be happy to recommend it to young readers. But the thing is, it's not. Shuri: A Black Panther Novel is, as the title clearly suggests, a middle-grade superhero book that's tied to a gigantic cinematic franchise (Marvel). And like it or not, that comes with certain expectations.
My biggest issue with this book is that it presented a version of Wakanda that I didn't recognize. I was baffled by the abrupt introduction of sexism and misogyny in Wakanda, a progressive Afro-futuristic civilization where women are revered warriors and queens hold real power. All of a sudden, only male royal figures are given statues and respect? Princesses are overlooked and dismissed? Only men can take the mantle of Black Panther? Pardon my Tagalog, pero saan ito nanggaling, ate girl?
In its quest to serve girl power vibes with Shuri at the forefront, this book does a disservice to the Wakanda that we know and love on screen. And it also reduces its central character into an unexceptional, cookie-cutter, not-like-other-girls heroine (loves STEM, hates dressing up and other "girly" things, can't relate to female peers her age). For more specific examples, this review does a great job at detailing them.
On a more nitpicky note, for an isolationist country, there sure are a lot of American references in the text. There's even a brief reference towards Shuri taking lessons on American history and culture - and I have to say, WHAT ARE THOSE? I can understand that, as a princess, she needs to be armed with world history to be able to navigate global politics. But why is there a heavy emphasis on American education? (I mean, I know why, and it's annoying.)
Overall, I'm very disappointed and frustrated. This book could've been so much more.
Not recommended.
If this were just a middle-grade superhero book, I'd probably be happy to recommend it to young readers. But the thing is, it's not. Shuri: A Black Panther Novel is, as the title clearly suggests, a middle-grade superhero book that's tied to a gigantic cinematic franchise (Marvel). And like it or not, that comes with certain expectations.
My biggest issue with this book is that it presented a version of Wakanda that I didn't recognize. I was baffled by the abrupt introduction of sexism and misogyny in Wakanda, a progressive Afro-futuristic civilization where women are revered warriors and queens hold real power. All of a sudden, only male royal figures are given statues and respect? Princesses are overlooked and dismissed? Only men can take the mantle of Black Panther? Pardon my Tagalog, pero saan ito nanggaling, ate girl?
In its quest to serve girl power vibes with Shuri at the forefront, this book does a disservice to the Wakanda that we know and love on screen. And it also reduces its central character into an unexceptional, cookie-cutter, not-like-other-girls heroine (loves STEM, hates dressing up and other "girly" things, can't relate to female peers her age). For more specific examples, this review does a great job at detailing them.
On a more nitpicky note, for an isolationist country, there sure are a lot of American references in the text. There's even a brief reference towards Shuri taking lessons on American history and culture - and I have to say, WHAT ARE THOSE? I can understand that, as a princess, she needs to be armed with world history to be able to navigate global politics. But why is there a heavy emphasis on American education? (I mean, I know why, and it's annoying.)
Overall, I'm very disappointed and frustrated. This book could've been so much more.
Not recommended.
As a diehard fan of the [b:The Princess Diaries|38980|The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries, #1)|Meg Cabot|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1355011082l/38980._SY75_.jpg|2073907], I immediately included Tokyo Ever After on my list of most anticipated 2021 book releases.
It's an honor to be able to read this book early, and it is a shame that I'm writing a less-than-glowing review. Here are my initial thoughts:
It's an honor to be able to read this book early, and it is a shame that I'm writing a less-than-glowing review. Here are my initial thoughts: