Hey, guys!
I'm not sure if you noticed, but I've been able to post more consistently. I'm so excited that I can write more reviews because I missed it so freaking much. School is killer, but this semester is less intense...and it's my last. Prepare yourself for more reading after May hits. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself. If you would like me to write some blog posts about my college experience and my degree, comment below! I'd love to ramble about it, but if you're uninterested, I won't put it on here. ☺️
This month was a really fun reading month. One of my friends, Katherine, loaned me her manga volumes of Ouran High School Host Club (my absolute favorite anime of all time, just sayin') and I was able to read 3 of the eighteen (not including the first volume because I had already read it before). I was also able to read 18 books/graphic novels and mangas/short stories. In February I plan on reading books that are only from my physical TBR, so brace yourself for more reading. Hopefully, I can read more than January.
Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur
3.5 stars
This book was so beautiful, heartbreaking, and so engaging. I didn't want to put this book down, but I was so appalled that a girl would have to go through this...not just a girl, but I felt so terrible that any child would have to face this trauma.
At the age of 14, Adrienne is swept into her mother's affair. She quickly becomes her mother's confidant and accomplice in the entire charade. It puts so much stress upon her, causing her to become sick and to develop anxiety and depression. As Adrienne's life continues on, she has to realize that putting her mother before her own well-being is more damaging than anything and that she needs to take care of herself.
This memoir is so heart-breaking. Just reading about her chaotic and stressful mother made me stressed out. Therefore, I had so much empathy for the poor woman. It was really wonderful to read about Adrienne's personal growth and journey toward self-love and romantic love.
This book made me really think about my own relationship with my mother, as well as how I approach self-care and self-love.
This is absolutely a must-read. I think so many people would benefit from Adrienne's life experience. She is truly talented and lovely. She deserves so much happiness.
Purchase here:
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Steven Universe: Just Right (Volume 4 & Volume 5) by Rebecca Sugar, Grace Kraft, and Rii Abrego
Thoughts on Volume 4:
3.5 stars
This was such a cute addition to the comic series. I loved the little vignettes that surrounded all of the side characters. It was so nice to get little slices of life that follow my favorites from the show. The art style was also just very very lovely. I really enjoyed the similarities to the show and the more-bubbly versions that are so signature of Rebecca Sugar's style.
Thoughts on Volume 5:
3 stars
Another addition to the series! While I didn't enjoy the little stories in this volume as much as the previous, I still really loved the continuation of the various characters' development and the beautiful art style. I just adore this world and these characters. I'll be reading more and more of these as the year continues on.
Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
3.75 stars
I had the pleasure of reading this delightful rom-com early. I was a part of the blog tour for its release and I was able to share an excerpt provided by the publisher.
If you would like to read the review, I definitely recommend check it out, then please click {here}!
Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
4 stars
Another early release that I had the pleasure of reading. Lyssa Kay Adams is quickly becoming one of those authors that I adore. She is so talented when it comes to creating dynamic characters and swoon-worthy romances.
Click {here} for my full review!
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Sadie by Courtney Summers
3 stars
This book was a real thinker, but not really my cup of tea. Granted, it was written really well and the twists and turns were very entertaining. However, I just don't really jive well with thrillers or mysteries. I often find myself guessing the twists or just getting bored by the concept half way through. I quit listening to the audio half way through because I was getting bored, but I still wanted to know what happened in the end. Overall, this book was just okay for me. I definitely think that others will enjoy it, but I'm still on the hunt for a thriller that I absolutely adore.
Purchase here:
Little Bird: The Flight for Elder's Hope by Darcy Van Poelgeest and Ian Bertram
2 stars
I was really hoping for more from this book, but I was mainly just disappointed and confused. The art, I think, was the best part of this graphic novel. It was gory, haunting, and beautifully done. However, the story-line was just messy and not very interesting. I was wholly confused for the majority of the novel. I think that I was missing some sort of context that would have helped my reading experience, but after sledging through the novel, I don't particularly care to search around for the details.
Purchase here:
Amazon // Book Depository // Goodreads
Ark by Veronica Roth
2 stars
I'm a fairly enthusiastic fan of Veronica Roth, but this short story was just boring to me. I probably have to read the story collection in order and continuously, but I really do not care to after reading that first story. This was overall just very disappointing.
Ouran High School Host Club Volume 2, 3, & 4 by Bisco Hatori
Thoughts on Volume 2:
4 stars
This was such a wonderful nostalgic read. I loved the little differences that peeked through when compared to the animated show. I'm eager to continue on with the series and see where the show and book series branch off.
Thoughts on Volume 3:
4 stars
I really enjoyed this volume! I loved how some of the chapters were so different from the show and added an extra cultural element that the show lacked.
Thoughts on Volume 4:
3 stars
This was still such a fun volume, but I felt like the story was quite slow and the out-dated language and probable differing meanings because of the translation caused a bit of discomfort when it came to describing Ranka. I think that it's mainly because this was originally published in 2006 when
Series' Goodreads Page: {click here}
What He Doesn't Know by Kandi Steiner
2.75 stars
I picked this up because of the emphatic recommendation from my friend, Bethany, because Kandi Steiner is one of her favorite authors and this series is her favorite of the books Steiner has published. Unfortunately, this just wasn't for me. I didn't like the relationship that started to develop -- it just felt stale and forced. I didn't like the characters much at all. They didn't communicate with each other and it was just obnoxious. The conflict that was revealed was quite tragic and really broke my heart, but the love-triangle and drama that progressed throughout just annoyed me.
This book is definitely beloved by Steiner's readers. However, I don't think that her style is my cup of tea. I won't be continuing on with the series in the future.
Purchase Here:
Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
3 stars
When it comes to classic lit, I'm not usually too keen on diving into older literature because I'm not too fond of most older writers' styles. The style that has come from the 20s and 30s is usually not my cup of tea. However, I felt like this collection of essays is an important step and representation of the struggles of women and the discrimination and marginalization that women have had to face.
Purchase Here:
Amazon // Book Depository // Goodreads
Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez
5 stars
This book is by far my favorite from the month. I was so nervous that one of my most anticipated reads would be disappointing or lack some sort of element, but this was exactly what I needed and the exact sort of story that I adore. It was so gloriously whimsical and such a delight to read.
First of all, the characters were so wonderfully developed. Each was fabulously flawed and realistic. I was rooting for Ximena, slowly starting to love with our mysterious love interest, and unabashedly despising Atoc. These characters were so engaging and I couldn't help but get attached to their lives. I cannot wait for our companion book. I have some guesses of who it will follow, but we don't have any clues quite yet. I'm so excited to dive into book #2 in 2021!
If you love intricate magic systems, beautifully described settings, lush and captivating storytelling, and the desire to dive deep into the Bolivian culture -- you will adore this book! Please pick it up and give it a read. This is bound to be another favorite and one of my top favorites of 2020.
I will have a full review up for this book in the next couple of weeks!
Where to Purchase:
Amazon // Book Depository // Goodreads
Sea of Strangers by Lang Leav
3.5 stars
On January 3rd, my fiance turned 25. Since we started recreationally going to bookstores, he always managed to find books that he wanted, but didn't want to pay the expensive price for ($15+ is so ridiculous for a paperback) or he'd say he wanted a book but wouldn't want to buy it at that time. This poetry collection was one of them. About a week before his birthday, we made a trip to Barnes and Noble and he found this book and decided that he was going to get it soon. I told him "no," and said I'd maybe get it for him for his birthday. I ended up ordering it online (cheaper price!) and gave it to him.
After he read it (he enjoyed it), he let me read it. Poetry collections are usually hit or miss for me. Some of the most popular poetry collections, I've found, were just so meh to me. However, this one was quite nice. I really enjoyed Lang Leav's voice and the emotional journey that they take the reader on. I really enjoyed that this collection was a story made up of both poetry and prose. It was a very nice mixture that didn't leave strange gaps like just poetry could.
The themes and discussions throughout this collection were done so well. The imagery and word choices and formatting of the story that was told was so beautifully done.
Where to Purchase:
Amazon // Book Depository // Goodreads
Koko Be Good by Jen Wang
3 stars
Once again, Jen Wang has fully impressed me with her beautiful art style and ability to create such intricate and complex story-lines.
I really enjoyed the overall moral of this story, however, I feel as if the synopsis does not really fully tell the reader what sort of story they are about to dive into.
I just want to say that I really enjoyed this surprise of a book. Maybe just go into it with the vague synopsis. It was just very nice to read. Very hopeful.
Where to Purchase:
Amazon // Book Depository // Goodreads
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
4 stars
Trigger/Content Warning: sexual assault, physical assault, sexism, general inequality
This is one of those stories that will sit with you for (probably) the rest of your life. When going into this story, I didn't know what to expect. I was eager to read such a popular and impactful novel that had never really reached my radar until I had to read it for class. However, I didn't think this would impact me the way that it did. It's powerful. It's important. It's beautifully crafted.
The House on Mango Street follows a young Esperanza through a series of vignettes through a year of her life. The novel begins when she is 14 and continues for about a year into her 15th year of life.
This novel is an intricate piece that follows women, the effects of a misogynistic world on a woman's life experience, and how equal treatment and feminism can create and form a better world.
Read this book, friends. It's so important.
Where to Purchase:
Amazon // Book Depository // Goodreads
Find Me Their Bones (Bring Me Their Heart #2) by Sara Wolf
3 stars
If you've followed me for a bit, you'll know of my deep love for Sara Wolf's Bring Me Their Hearts. Find Me Their Bones follows where BMTH ends and continues to take the readers one a freaking wild journey.
Though this book was a bit of a disappointment -- it definitely suffered from second-book-syndrome -- I still quite enjoyed it. Getting to know Zera and seeing her struggle with understanding her Heartlessness and trying to stay in-touch with her humanity was so nice to read. This struggle, however, really slowed down the pacing and didn't keep me completely engaged. It just felt a bit repetitive in some spots and the book just felt like a lot of filler information.
The interactions were Lucien also felt really lackluster and I just didn't like him much at all anymore. He was borderline imbecilic to me and I was just annoyed with his character. Zera's relationships with anyone but Yorl. It just felt really superficial.
Overall, I think that there was too much "telling" rather than "showing."
Average Rating: 3.3 stars
Number of Pages Read: 4,133 pages
Format, Genre, & Age Break-down:
- YA: 8
- Adult: 8
- Children's: 2
- Audio: 2
- Physical: 11
- eBook: 5
- Graphic Novels: 7
- Nonfiction: 1
- Contemporary/Romance: 3
- Thriller/mystery: 1
- Sci-Fi: 1
- Class reading: 2
- Fantasy: 2
- Poetry: 1
What did you read in January? What was your favorite read? Comment below!
Happy reading:
Olivia
~ Liv the Book Nerd ~
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