themoonwholistens's Reviews (698)

“It can take years to mold a dream. It takes only a fraction of a second for it to be shattered.”


Hi. . . okay. . .so. . . once again my heart has been stolen. I AM INLOVE!! And here are the reasons.



~ no obvious favoritism in the writing of the author. I feel like there is a difference when th author favors on guy in the love triangle and if is the character themselves. I guess you can feel it in the story and the characters themselves.

~ rafe is bae tho. I loved rafe, no questions asked, in the first part of the story but I do have a weakness for bad boys and hard love so I kinda got swayed in the second part of the story with Kaden.

~ the character depth and the character backgrounds are explained so well. As always, I am a sucker for character-strong stories. the world building of this book is sadly not that great and it felt corny to me at certain times. All those prophecy and THE GIFT stuff seemed so corny since it wasn't really explained that much.

~ BUT I practically got butterflies all day every day. The romance in the later part of the book was really good. I felt the characters so much and I really still am not over them that sometimes I would just find myself already getting teary eyed at one thing they would say. It hurts my heart so much. I AM SO CONFUSED BY WHO I LOVE BUT ITS OKAY.


There is some inconsistency in the book but I have hope for the next book to be much better. This book may seem cliche and predictable at first but I was so happy with Lia's character development and just all the other characters.


Full Review:

“Yes, Venera and Hawk and all of your family may be illusions, but they still love you. And love is real. Love is a choice”

So I was going through my reviews and realized I never posted my review for this book. It's been too long since I read this for me to create paragraphs so I just decided to post here the notes that I took down while reading. (Note: I apologize in advance for my lack of eloquence, this was originally for my eyes only)

— overall thoughts: 4.25 —
- everything is so not typical
- its not even the cliche kind of unique. like its not normal, but you still expect it. this is really extraordinary in a way i didn’t expect it to be

— characters —
- i love how amanda foody was not scared to step out of the ya fantasy box when it came to the character designs
- i mean... SORINA!!!!!!
- both sorina and luca mean sun/light KANDKANFKSNFKSNDNSJD
- just like sorina’s illusions i feel like amanda foody created these characters but they were the ones who wrote their own story with their own personalities
- they just came to life
- LUCA OMG the dude... likes ... STARGAZING!!! am i already in love
- they were lovable individually and were endearing as a couple [of friends], but the romance still felt rushed

— plot —
- even though the pacing was quite slow at first, the details were explained, thus good world building
- the general idea was already intriguing enough, the story telling made it that much more lovable
- i didn’t feel the build up towards the major scenes in the first part of the book, so it felt flat but by the end part, i was finally feeling everything to the point that i was crying with the characters as well
- it was one twist after another
- the pacing of the plot in the first part of the book just needed a little something, and i think i could have enjoyed it more
- not saying the plot was bad because it was very much enjoyable
- the pacing was off because at 30% i still wasn’t feeling the life of the book that much... though i found myself feeling nostalgic by the end, so something changed in the middle <3
- i always feel like the ideas are so great but it can be maximized so much more
- it’s like the plot was trying so hard to focus on how gamorah was her hoke but i found the family aspect to be more compelling and evident
- it was also explored despite it not being the main focus that amanda foody had in mind i believe (I don't even remember what I was referring to here)
- my only problem was that this was tagged as a mystery and i felt like it was lacking in that sense
- though, the fact that there were SO MANY twists and that they were all one after the other, was able to treat my problem a bit
- PERFECT ENDING

— themes —
- the fact that you can’t make someone love you... *screams*
- you choose your family
- the fact that amanda foody can come up with these kind of stories is already so unique and great in itself

— writing style —
- amanda foody does not have a flowery kind of writing style but its the kind that you figure out and slowly build in your head as you go along with the book and the story
- the story kept trying to focus on gamorah being sorina’s home when the family aspect was much more evident without the book even trying to go there
- so for me the building up of the world could have been done at the very first part and then focused on the family aspect of the book for the rest
- but this could be just me

i love how you can always expect amanda foody’s books to be something different and diverse. exploring the uniqueness in the modern world

// Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review //

“There was only one home left for him.”


The start of this book was very interesting and seemed appealing at first, even the first few pages or so.. but I soon then realized that it was not the story or book me. This book mentions a lot about physical abuse/substance abuse, and just a lot or blatant cursing enough which I truly am not a fan of. And there was a lot of talk about it.

I find the theme of the book too dark for my taste and I can't even decide if his is suppose to be a YA or NA book.

On the brighter side of things, I enjoyed a bit of Leo and Charlie's relationship . . to an extent, hehe. There were times when I found certain parts all swoon worthy but some parts where I just had to cringe because it seemed inappropriate and just not romantic. Though, this could also be due to the fact that the book was not able to capture my full interest at all times. The idea of the book was a good one to begin with but it needed a more capturing start in my opinion. The writing style was a bit moody and draggy.

The design of the cover really does capture the mood of the book, though, I am not really sure if that is good or bad.

I LOVED HOW FAMILY IS PART of the story though. It's almost as if it was saying that with all of the things going on what you need is people that you can call home. That was the most redeeming part of the book to be honest. That idea and that concept made the book a better to read. It was emphasized a lot throughout the book but I hope it was able to focus on the family aspect to more characters and not just between the two main interests.

I got weirded out of Leo in some parts though, like how he's so obsessed with Charlie right away with nothing much happening yet. But then again, that's just me.

Lastly, another reason I gave this book 1 star is due to the very unsatisfying ending. Nothing to be specific about really but I just wanted more of a "BAM" effect one I turn the last page, it just didn't do it for me. I was expecting a lot of heart warming stuff for this book but I was sadly let down. Although, the family aspect surprised me a little bit.

one of the easiest classics to read that i’ve read and it’s STUNNING. STUNNING. STUNNING.

you should know that there are some outdated terms that are a result of it’s times and that i definitely see why it’s a popular retelling

“She thought I knew a lot because I knew different things from her.”

RTC !

— 4.25 —

A victorian era romance novella that focuses on mental health?? I am here for it.

“This burden of yours—this sadness—I want you to leave it with me for a day or two.”

This felt like everything you would want in a classic chivalric victorian story. Thought it's not that long and is relatively light, it's very well written. I loved that mental health was given a huge focus without it being treated as a source of conflict. It's very victorian but also very modern with the themes it tackles. The romance was pure and wholesome (get you a man that reads books to you when you're down).

We really need to stop romanticizing toxic relationships and hype up the good non-toxic men ❤️ It was so easy to love the main characters and get lost in the writing that I am in the mood to go take a walk under trees while leaves are falling and daydream a while.

“It gives you pleasure doesn't it? The hours you spend in creating it? That alone makes it a thing of value.”

The various character relationships tied together so well in the end and if you're put off by the fact that the romance might get in the way of the brothers, trust me, Mimi Matthews will take care of it.

↣ Read for when you are craving a heart-warming short read that will make want to fall in love over letters to your best friend, lace handkerchiefs, and a fallen tree in the forest. It's that classique victoriance romance without all the scheming and annoying toxicity (among the main characters). Exactly everything I love bundled up in this neat little bow of a book. ↢

P.S. I thought he was a priest at first so I found it weird but thankfully it's not really what I thought.

— 4.5 —
⇢ content warnings// mental health stigma, domestic violence (off-page)
⇢ representation: main character w/ depression

This really was just (in the most beautiful way) about sisters reconnecting through their experience of searching for their lost father in Joseon Era Korea. And I loved it for that.

It was both a heartbreaking and heartwarming read and the kind of YA mystery-thriller that I actually enjoy. Even though this had topics of death (please check trigger warnings at the bottom) it didn’t feel heavy on the heart.

my problem with Silence of Bones was that I was never hooked into the plot nor the characters but it was different since this felt like it had more of a personal touch. I loved the sister relationship and the subtle development throughout the story. It was sweet and built up on itself. You see how these sisters that were separated for so long slowly trust each other again and *that’s the heartwarming part*. There are strong family relationships, most especially sisterly and daughter-father relationships. It made me so soft and ultimately made the otherwise dark story feel warm and touching.

“How fortunate she is, to be someone’s daughter.”

The way the historical fiction aspect was played into the plot was spot on.

The fact that it was mostly set in Jeju island was really fun to imagine even though I know it was in a different era, I enjoyed imagining myself being back in present day Jeju island. Definitely recommending the audiobook for this one if that's possible for you. The performance adds an extra layer to the story and brings the Joseon Korea to life.

“You can choose to keep silent. But if you do, would you be pleased with that decision in the years to come?”

I have to say that I wasn't as attached to the characters individually as much as I was with them as an ensemble and how they interacted with one another… nonetheless, i still think the messages were well received. The writing style is definitely investing. It does play the line between whether or not it’s a supernatural mystery or psychological mystery… which I am now realizing that I am not always the biggest fan of. I like mysteries that are more concrete and decide what it is while being creative in that side that they choose (whether psychological or supernatural). But if you do like that kind of mystery, this is goes through that phase.

The nuanced conversation on gender inequality and empowerment were very prevalent and builds up to the overall theme and message. And we all know how much I love nuanced discussions and thought-provoking themes.

This is the kind of story you should read when you want something a little darker and mysterious but is also still incredibly wholesome while delivering all the emotional familial feelings. June Hur should keep putting out more of these historical mysteries. Or branch out. Either way, I'll keep reading their books for personal and unique touch she brings to the YA mystery genre that is so hard to find nowadays.

I completely flew through this one and it's utterly transportive.

— 4.0 —
⇢ content warnings//

Spoiler

Child abuse, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Mutilation, Poisoning, Sexual assault (referenced), Slavery, Suicide (mentioned)

----------------------
*patiently waiting for my copy to arrive*

“sexy psychological thriller”?? where?

The premise led me to believe that this would be about murdering sapphics that was inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray… spoiler: (1) there are sapphics but they aren’t murderous, (2) I see how it could be TPoDG inspired but that was a stretch in marketing.

There is a way to write about toxic relationships and manipulation without coming across as enabling it. I know because I have read books that have represented it well. This was not one of those. I was really hoping the romance would pull through in the end but it was just toxic, manipulative, and full of lies from both parties that I it bothered me to think that some people might find it romanti.

What is this about?
This is a YA mystery-thriller that revolves around two sapphic girls, photography, and murders. That's the bare minimum I can give because I think the synopsis of this book is misleading.

Something I want to address right off the bat is about Lily's (a supposedly Asian character) descriptions. The first time she was introduced, Lily was described as (and I quote): “She looks Asian”...

what do you mean? what do you mean she ”LOOKS ASIAN”? This is conforming to the stereotype of the Asian monolith and that all Asians look the same. NEWS FLASH: not all asians look the same. As an Asian person, I can tell you that I had no idea how to picture this character. I hate how there wasn’t even any other description about her before… things happened. She was just cast as “that Asian girl” and I am very tired of it. At first I cast the thought aside because I was thinking it was going to be a one-time encounter but Lily pops up multiple throughout the story. To think that the author went out of her way to describe someone's supermodel mom in detail but did not think to describe the one Asian character in this whole book.

Full of choppy writing, details that made no sense, red flags, and toxic behavior. I find it tricky with Mystery-Thrillers sometimes because I’m not sure right away if the toxic nonsense is the point of the story or it really is problematic, in this case, it was problematic because the resolution didn’t feel satisfying in the least bit. There were no proper closures and the toxicity of the relationship never passed through proper communication channels between the parties involved.

The fact that Veronica knew that Mick had a photophobia and still proceeded to take her photo without Mick’s knowledge was already a red flag to me. What message does that say? that it’s okay to consciously trick someone even though you knew it was wrong from the very start? It's extra disturbing because it wasn't a one-time thinking. So many versions of this happened throughout the story.

Other than that, there were so many holes in the details and the writing. There were certain scenes wherein it feels like it skipped a line where it was supposed to mention a detail. I understand if this was an ARC but I read a final copy so it should’ve been resolved in editing. If the details were not missing, they were just stupid (i.e. what kind of lifeguard has no extra set of clothes? and I've never heard of paramedics taking an hour to arrive?)... making it both unbelievable and tone-deaf.



The plot and the conflicts felt so silly, mainly because the character relationships had no backbone. Mick’s relationship with her mother just sucked and wasn’t given justice or a proper explanation. I don’t think it was well written and she was just a bitch.

There are so many triggering contents but what puts me off is that they weren’t resolved nor addressed properly. If you’re going to write about manipulation and toxicity, you need to be able to handle the consequences and realities of it. WOW it’s obvious how frustrated I was.

I would understand if the point of the story was the toxic relationship and how that was dealt with it but it wasn’t. The story wanted to focus on the murdering aspect (i guess) but the details just made it feel like there was always something missing.

I can’t begin to explain how many times I wrote “too many unrealistic and unbelievable details” in my notes because as the story went on... they just kept piling up. Which might not be noticeable to some people but when it comes to contemporary stories, I enjoy them more when they have more of a touch on reality. I didn't even realize it was mick who had neon pink hair until half way through the story oops

And the characters… just made no sense? I found a lot of the dialogue to be cringey and the chemistry between the main characters whole cast was nonexistent. I get that teenagers can make stupid decisions but even those who weren’t teenagers in the story were acting immature and it’s like everything was written to give the main character the hardest time possible without considering the consistency of the book. The characters and their mindsets annoyed and bothered me a lot.

UGHHHH ANYWAYS...



I feel like the story would have been better if the perspectives weren’t between Mick and Veronica. I maybe would’ve enjoyed it more if it was from the perspective of one of them and then from the perspective of someone else. It just removed too much of the thrill of the story itself because as the readers, you already know everything that both of them were thinking… so everything was so obvious ohmy, I knew who the killer was from the start. WHERE'S THE THRILL.


Overall, I didn’t like the message that the story delivers about manipulation because it normalizes it without giving actual or realistic consequences. It comes across as very enabling. The plot was so weird and not at all what I expected for a “Picture of Dorian Gray retelling”. Events felt rushed without being given the proper time to be processed by the readers before we move on to another major plot point that has a different tone to the previous plot point. Thus, there was little impact on the parts where I think it could’ve been more hard hitting.

I don’t think the themes that they aimed to communicate were particularly well written. The only character I somewhat liked was Veronica’s mom because she was the only one in this whole situation who even acknowledged properly that the relationship/s toxic. But in the end, even that was glossed over and wasn’t resolved properly (I keep saying that).

I wasn’t attached to any of the characters even though they interested me at first. I don’t think they were built up enough before all the drama and nonsense started. My favorite aspect was the times when it points out that women should stop apologizing but I don’t think even that was well represented and was just forced into the story. I got bored less than half-way through the plot and I just continued to see if how things would resolve.

There is an "open ending" if I can even call it that. Don't read this if you want a satisfying ending that makes sense. It's not that.

↣ This wouldn’t be at the top list of things i would recommend. These aren’t the kind of thrillers that I enjoy because it mostly just feels like the purpose of the story is to make you uncomfortable (not even in the good way LOL) while trying (but failing) to add romance. If you can look past everything I just said and enjoy this story for what it is... I’m happy for you. This just gave me no joy and while i do like thrillers… i still expect satisfying endings and developments. Or at least to have themes that are written in a way that makes you feel something. ↢

I kinda get what the author was trying to do... but this was not it. I don't want to read about one-dimensional toxic and manipulative characters surrounded by even more characters that see no wrong in it and enable it.



— overall thoughts: 1.5 —
⇢ content warnings//

Spoiler

Animal cruelty, Animal death, Car accident, Child death, Death., Drowning, Emotional child abuse, Imprisonment, Kidnapping, Manipulation, Murder, Panic attacks, Stalking, Strangling, Suicidal ideation, Violence

....well, I didn’t cry.

“I am made of memories.”

I am so sorry T_T I feel like I failed the greek population. I tried so much to care for the plot that I ended up finishing it. (Please don't shoot arrows or throw spears at me)

Why this book isn’t a 2.0 star or less:
- Chiron
- Patroclus when he’s doing more than just be there
- the greek mythology
- that ending. (I really wished I loved the rest of the book as much as I did the ending)
- the gayness (they are so whipped for each other lol)



— overall thoughts: 2.5 —
⇢ content warnings//

Spoiler

Abduction, Abandonment, Blood depictions, Child abuse, Death, Human sacrificing, Human trafficking, Murder, Physical violence, Plague (mentioned, graphic), Rape (mentioned), Self-harm, Slavery, Torture, War

In case you didn’t know, this book is a retelling and inspired by [b:The Illiad|35266972|The Illiad (Classics Illustrated)|Homer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496147422l/35266972._SX50_.jpg|86635090] and [b:The Odyssey|1381|The Odyssey|Homer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390173285l/1381._SY75_.jpg|3356006], and focuses on the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles.

The main reason that this wasn’t a fave book was for the reason that Achilles and Patroclus’ relationship wasn’t the most investing thing to me (I’m very sorry). Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed their relationship at times and did love them at the start because it played with tropes that I normally enjoy (shared bed, slow burn, forbidden romance, etc.). But towards the middle it just started to fall flat for the lack of complexity in their relationship other than what outside forces were placing on them. The conflict aside from the war felt soooo draggy with it's linear plot and the flow of the story was so boring to me. I didn't feel like there was enough nuance and thought provoking conversations/topics that were explored that satisfied me.

To all future readers, I am telling you now that this book is a lot more character driven than I anticipated.

Even though it was slow burn, my problem was that there wasn’t enough chance for me to get to know the characters individually before I was supposed to care for the romance and their problems. I really do see why everyone loves them though and I think it's more of a personal preference in certain kind of stories. In settings like these, I just can't handle when you throw two characters at me that I feel like I've watched so many versions of and expect to just fall in love. I needed something more unique? something that makes these two versions of Patroclus and Achilles feel distinct AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN



If you are the kind of reader who needs to fall in love with the characters first before the romance, like me, you might not be as sold. Achilles was just too perfect ohmygoodness and it was so frustrating because I felt like I was Patroclus suffering through that

This was a really sad, heavy, and dark read but I can't get over how Tiffany D. Jackson manages to humanize all of her characters while still putting their flaws at the forefront. It makes for an extremely satisfying character development, especially with how she ties her endings so well.

— overall thoughts: 3.5 —
⇢ content warnings//

Spoiler

Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse (including neglect), Character death (graphic), Domestic abuse, Domestic violence, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, PTSD, Racism, Trauma, Violence

⇢ representation: Black characters, Dyslexic character

The timeline of the narrative does go back and forth just like [b:Grown|49397758|Grown|Tiffany D. Jackson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579764388l/49397758._SY75_.jpg|67096697] which I loved because it leaves some things to piece together for the readers. It essentially follows Claudia as she figures out what happened to her best friend, Monday, who she used to spend basically every moment of every day with. The plot was definitely intense the whole way through which I love for mystery-thrillers. I do wish that I was more hooked in Claudia and Monday's friendship during the "Before" chapters but I don't think it kept me from crying any less during the present day chapters.

Furthermore, I think this quote perfectly sums up the core theme of the book and the message it tries to get across:

“Rumors are born with legs that can run a mile in less than a minute.
Rumors eat up dreams without condiments.
Rumors do not have expiration dates.
Rumors can be deadly.
Rumors can get you killed.”

In case you didn't know, this is a tragic book.

It is slow-paced, which isn't usually my style and I did think some scenes felt a little redundant in the middle, but it was a great build up that still made me tear up and pause and stare at my wall.

There are definitely complex characters at its center. The way the author portrayed Monday's character made you want to hate her and feel bad for her. Until know, I don't really know which one I feel for her more. Complicated feelings will arise, I don't blame the amount of people who said this broke them.

Tiffany D. Jackson always incorporates familial relationships so well into her story that it makes you feel invested in the cast that much more. I get so easily invested in platonic and familial dynamics in stories so if you're like me, you will feel all of the emotions. Especially for her contemporary/mystery-thriller novels.

I did enjoy [b:Grown|49397758|Grown|Tiffany D. Jackson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579764388l/49397758._SY75_.jpg|67096697] more because I felt more personally connected to the story and I think the story felt more layered while being more thought provoking. This was mostly plain old heartbreaking (which isn't necessarily a bad thing in itself).

↣ I wouldn't recommend this if you have a hard time handling heavy topics like grief and abuse but if are fine tackling those, it is a hard hitting read that I'm not surprised it has resonated so deeply with so many people. I lost count of how many times this book made me contemplate my own real life relationships... and isn't that what we all need sometimes? ↢

This is labeled as a mystery-thriller and rightfully so, the atmosphere was intense and fast-paced the whole way through. I think you should be in the right headspace when you start reading this because watching the manipulation unfold just elicited so many emotions for me. I couldn’t put it down even though it just kept getting more intense.

I didn't like with some things about the ending and the plot twist TDJ chose... and that's the main reason didn't give it a full perfect rating.


— overall thoughts: 4.5 —
⇢ content warnings//

Spoiler

Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Death (including loved one), Emotional abuse, Grooming, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicide ideation, Victim Blaming

⇢ representation: Black Main Characters, Black Side Characters, Latinx Side Character

The story begins at the climax of the plot when Enchanted wakes up to find Korey Fields dead and she has no recollection of what happened. From there the narration goes to what happened before the incident and as well as shows the aftermath of trauma after you go through said traumatic events with the main character. The way Tiffany D. Jackson decided to end the plotline was, I think, the best decision that could have been possible and I still didn’t see it coming. I do think that it could have been built up more that it was.

As a musician, it was so interesting to me that the author chose to portray racism and prejudices in the music industry specifically. It added a layer of relatability for me, especially at the moments when her PTSD manifested while performing. I don’t wish to glorify or romanticize that in any way but since Enchanted is a singer and part fo the trauma was a result of that, it makes sense.

My favorite aspect about this whole thing was probably the fact that Korey is actually humanized and not cast as a straight up bad guy while still making it very clear that what he did was manipulative and wrong. He felt like a real person with real feelings, real stories to tell. As the book said, it explores the complicated feelings of loving your torturer.


I loved that the teenage dialogues didn’t make me cringe, they felt realistic and genuine. I found it easy to relate to Enchanted as a character. The writing style made everything feel so tangible. I was so intrigued the whole time from her being a swimmer, to a singer, and the murdering mystery part too. I don’t know why it took me so long to pick up a Tiffany D. Jackson book but I’m glad this was the first, I get the hype now.

There was such a well established family foundation that I didn’t expect to actually be invested in Enchanted’s family as much as just herself. Usually, I find that even though a book has strong family dynamics, they are never seem to be as deeply entertained to the main character’s development. The author went that extra mile to showcase that and it just goes to show how no one is ever exempt from trauma/manipulation, even those from two parent households. That was a detail I highly appreciated since even in real life, we tend to look at the background of the victim before actually starting to accuse the person who committed the crime.

The father-daughter content was very intense for me to read as I am so close to my own dad and the emotions hit me on another level but was still, I think, handled beautifully.

Furthermore, it reflected the complicated feelings of not just Enchanted as a victim but her parents as well (with the self blame that parents have being a catalyst for the trauma that was caused). There was one part that sounded like it glorified her trauma when she they said she sang so well in the middle of a panic attack but I think that was done more so to reflect the personality of the people around her.

The book even discusses (this all sounds like a lot but it was placed so well into the story) how even those who were abused by Korey in the past didn’t believe Enchanted not killing him even. The story actively tries to show how sometimes abuse is normalized which will always be triggering and intense to read for a lot of people. Again, this is a challenging read but Tiffany D. Jackson managed it well.

Please read the author’s note at the end because I feel like it wraps up the themes of the story in the best way.

↣ aside from being so important, I find that this was an incredibly written story that handled such sensitive topics well while exploring so many different views on manipulation, grooming, victim blaming, ++ ↢

“I mean, we’re all scared of drowning, everybody trying to keep afloat. You just have to keep swimming. Like in Finding Nemo.”