thelovelylibrarylady's Reviews (1.1k)

If you keep up with my reading and the reviews I write, you already know that I am a huge fan of Laura Lippman. When someone is looking for a crime fiction recommendation, she is my go-to. After I'm Gone is another great book written by her. It focuses heavily on family dynamics, but the plot is still exciting and unpredictable. I did not want to put this one down and I highly recommend adding this title (and Lippman's other novels) to your reading list!

I really wanted to love this book, but due to a personal reading preference that was not the case. The Opposite of Fate is a very slow, character-driven novel that shines a light on the topical issue of body autonomy. When a person is physically unable to make a decision about the future of their pregnancy, who gets to decide for them? What if the fetus they are pregnant with came from a violent attack that has left them indisposed? While this title is definitely thought-provoking, I was incredibly bored while reading it. I have finally come to terms with the fact that character-driven novels are just not for me. 

Better Than The Movies is the cutest book I have read in a long time. If you are a rom-com fan, this book is a must-read. My personal favorite is When Harry Met Sally and I saw a lot of that movie in this book. While it definitely falls into the Young Adult category, I believe that readers of all ages will fall in love with Wes and Liz's story. The writing itself is really good and I honestly wish I could read this book for the first time again.

Fans of slam poetry will enjoy Freeman's writing in this collection. I say that because I found myself reading most of the poems out loud rather than just in my head. Freeman's poems are explosive and audacious - two adjectives that describe the poetry I enjoy most. My personal favorites from this collection were "Self-Made", "Paranoia", "Urban Girl Exists" and "Another Poem about My Dead Father". 
(PUB DATE: 12/06/2022)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

I really enjoyed reading After Dark With Roxie Clark. Roxie, the protagonist, has all the traits that I love in a character. She is independent, stubborn, and a little odd. The story itself was full of unexpected twists and turns and I had a hard time putting it down. Overall, this is one of the better YA books that I have read this year and I think others will enjoy it as well. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. 
(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.)

I have had All You Can Ever Know on my reading list since it was published in 2018 and I am so glad that I finally got around to reading it this year. I learned a lot about transracial adoption and the adoption process in general by reading this memoir. I appreciated the vulnerability Chung showed through her writing and believe that her story will inspire and educate others as it did me. 

I saw myself in this book and it was incredibly validating to read about the ways people with bodies like mine are met with bias, oppression, and violence. I am tired of people who are heavier being dehumanized and disregarded by society as a whole. While I appreciate the body positivity movement and all that it has done, there is so much that it does not address. Gordon, the author of this book, makes sure that no issue (no matter how uncomfortable it may be to discuss) that fat people face is left untouched, making it a must-read for readers of all body sizes. 

Well, this book was adorable. I am super grateful that I was able to read Happy Place before its publication since I have loved all of Emily Henry's previous books. However, this title is definitely my new favorite. With the majority of the book set in Northern New England (Maine & Vermont), I felt super connected to the story. There is a certain charm to my home region and Henry definitely brought that to this title. The witty banter that readers expect from Henry's protagonists is present in this story and I have no doubt that this book will be a hit once it is published. Also, there is a small call-back moment to her book Beach Read that true Emily Henry fans will catch and be excited about. I can't wait until Happy Place is released into the wild in April 2023. 
(PUB DATE: 04/25/2023)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

This is the third book I have read from Courtney Summers. While I don't think this title was as good as Sadie, her most well-known piece, I did enjoy reading it. I'm The Girl was much darker than I was expecting and has graphic depictions of physical and sexual violence. If these topics are triggering for you, please be mindful of this before picking up the book. I ended up going with a three-star rating because I found the story to be a little slow at times and I don't think I would go out of my way to recommend this title to others unless they were already a fan of Summers' writing. 
(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.)