thelovelylibrarylady's Reviews (1.1k)

I was assigned to read this book for a class I took surrounding immigration and the history of the United States. I'm not going to lie, I was not excited to read it. However, The Deportation Machine opened my eyes to so many different aspects of how immigrants were and continue to be perceived and treated in this country. Goodman, the author, is clearly very knowledgeable about the subject and his writing made me question why the United States calls itself a "nation of immigrants" if they always have and continue to treat those who want to live and work in their nation so poorly. 

Nothing could have prepared me for how weird this book was. I have read some of this author's other work so I was aware of his affinity for all things odd, but Night of the Mannequins was just next level. This title was creepy, gory, and baffling. I would not go out of my way to recommend this short story to other readers as I genuinely don't know how I even feel about it. Stephen Graham Jones, you have succeeded in leaving me speechless. 

Never Lie is one of those books where you think you have it all figured out, but then the rug gets pulled out from under you. As you fall, you realize that you actually don't know anything and are left shocked by the plot's twists and turns. Finding a book like this one is rare and the feeling of being surprised never gets old. McFadden did an amazing job with this title. She is obviously a very talented writer and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future. If you are a thriller fan, Never Lie is a must-read. 
(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)
(I received an audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

Billy Porter is a gem of a human. The public knows how talented he is, but this memoir gives us a more intimate look into his life. From growing up in Pittsburgh to the present day, every story Billy shares in this title has one common theme: unbreakable determination. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook as Porter narrates it himself and even does a little singing. I definitely teared up multiple times while listening to it so keep the tissues close by! I am so excited for him to get his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next month. He deserves everything and more. 

Kiss Her Once for Me is a cute holiday rom-com with a handful of romance tropes (fake dating, insta love, and second chance romance) present. If you like Hallmark Christmas movies, this book is for you. I especially loved the side characters in this novel (the grandmothers were hilarious) and would love to read another title involving this family. This is the second book I have read from Cochrun and I look forward to reading whatever she writes next. She has a special talent for writing loveable characters who you end up caring deeply about and rooting for in her books. 
(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

Last fall, I planned to read The Ex Hex and I did not get around to it. However, this year I made this title a priority because of all the good reviews I saw for it. These reviews did not steer me wrong! This novel is a very cute rom-com with a good adventure that the protagonist and the love interest must go on. The only critique I had was that the ending felt rushed. With a few more chapters, the resolution could have been fully developed. Overall, The Ex Hex is a wonderful read with lots of witchy elements making it a perfect book to curl up with during September or October if you are into seasonal reading. 

I was satisfied with the finale of The Extradordinaries trilogy. T.J. Klune brought Nick and his friends and family to life through his writing and I am sad that I will not read any other books featuring this cast of characters. However, I do think Heat Wave wrapped up their stories well. There was one plot line in this final book that I didn't love, but it wasn't big enough to affect my ultimate rating of the title. While the first book is definitely my favorite, I do recommend this series as a whole to both teenagers and adults.
(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

This review is difficult to write because there were some aspects I really liked about this title and some aspects I really didn't. First of all, the story "Midwestern Girl Is Tired Of Appearing In Your Short Stories" (which is in this collection) is fantastic. It is probably one of the best short stories I have ever read and it ultimately saved Shit Cassandra Saw from a lower rating. Unfortunately, the brilliance of that story did not translate to the rest of the stories and poems in this book. I got what the author was trying to do - write about female empowerment in a way that transcends the constraints women have and continue to face. But, I felt that it lacked intersectionality. There was little to no commentary about race, religion, or social class which are three identity markers that overlap with womanhood. It doesn't feel right to write a feminist anthology and not talk about these other identities.