fandomsandfiction's reviews
576 reviews

Navigating early adulthood is a universal struggle. And yet, there are not many resources or help available for those in this phase of life! As a registered and practicing psychotherapist, who has gone through her own fair share of early adulthood struggles, Satya Doyle Byock hopes to change this. She refers to this volatile and terrifying period between childhood and adulthood as "quarterlife". While the "mid-life crisis" is so normalized that it's become an almost social norm, society, especially older adults, are quick to ignore and brush away the "quarterlife crisis". This book explores the "quarterlife" - those ages roughly between 16 and 35 - from a psychoanalytical and socially conscious point of view informed by real world stories of adolescents in crisis. It is SUCH an important work that I hope opens the door to many more books, research and resources on this topic.

Perhaps it is because I started therapy at a young age (15), that many of the issues faced by the quarterlifers in this book and the work done during their therapeutic practice did not resonate with me as deeply. I have explored and overcome many of these issues during my own therapy journey. Nevertheless, I still found this book to be very insightful and I even found myself engaging in some of the exercises that were given to the characters! I particularly liked how the author included a chapter at the end on "how to find your therapist (and what to expect". This is invaluable advice that I feel so many quarterlifers will benefit from (though it does come from a very American therapy practice landscape).

I am definitely going to recommend this book to every "quarterlifer" I know. Especially those in their 20 somethings and those who are yet to start their own healing journey (which is something we ALL need)!! You can avoid the "mid-life crisis" by healing and building nurturing habits in your "quarterlife" :) 

Brutal, complex and powerful. 

MAGIC-USING LESBIANS AND FAMILY DRAMA AND WITCH CLAN POLITICS !!!!! this story is done so well and I am going to start the next season immediately 

faeries and small towns and academic rivals <3

Besides a few shows I had watched and a single cha-cha-cha class I joined while on vacation, I never gave the industry of ballroom dance much thought. This book opened me to a whole new world of art, performance and passion. Through this world, Lee Wei-Jing explores gender, sexuality, intimacy, desire, ambition, self-esteem, and human connection. She critiques normative gender roles and the impacts of familial dynamics/trauma. The metaphor and symbolism of the mermaid adds a richness that ties all the themes and commentary together. I can only imagine this story must be even more exquisite in its original language.

 My first delve into autofiction, a genre I previously did not know existed!

Blending autobiographical events and fictional imaginings, Eben Venter aligns the parallel narratives of all those involved in the world of rhinos. This book weaves the stories of conservationists, researchers, rhino poachers, rhino horn traders, traditional medicine practitioners, spiritual advisors, and the author's own life. There is even a small insight into the minds of the vultures who pick on the dead rhino carcasses. At the forefront is the story of Decima, a beautiful rhino matriarch, a sentient self-aware being, who lives with the wisdom and pride of her years.

This was quite an interesting read. There were parts I enjoyed, parts I felt unnecessary, parts that made me feel great emotions, and parts that had me bored out of my mind. I was conflicted about how to rate this one, as the measure between the book's importance and the overall reading experience is difficult to calculate. This book brings forth many important issues of animal welfare and South Africa's socioeconomic climate. Each individual in this book is compelled to action by their specific, and often conflicting, goals. It is a story of desperation where every being, whether human or animal, is doing what it can to survive an unjust world. It's a book that makes you think and learn a lot! I developed a newfound appreciation for the majestic wild beasts, an ongoing frustration over the conditions of the world, and something between anger and sympathy for those who resort to illegal practices to get by.

This book won't be for everyone, but the topics covered should be in everyone's awareness!

 

AN UNDERRATED YA FANTASY MASTERPIECE. That's what this book is.

Tortured teens. Telepathic abilities. Wintery small town setting. Dysfunctional blood families and functional found families. And so much representation that made me feel so so seen!!!!!!

Gosh, I have once again found a book that has shaken me and spun me around and turned me upside down to the point where I am almost dizzy and delirious and struggling to form thoughts into words into a review. With immersive writing and characterization reminiscent of Shatter Me and Solitaire, the ride is so good it not only feels but IS real to you. It's something of an artistry. It was slightly frustrating reading my ebook copy because I just wanted to annotate and doodle and POUR my thoughts onto the pages of this book. (I did it digitally, but it's not the same). Nevertheless, I greatly enjoyed my reading experience.

These characters are so so special. There's Aiden, a neurodivergent empath hiding behind her protective shield of lies and Cole, an autistic insomniac whose own shields hide a horrific past. I found pieces of myself in both of them. Aiden's heightened sensory input and protectiveness towards her family (at the expense of her own well-being) and Cole's love for black coffee and cinnamon and his inability to fall asleep... These are all things I relate to so deeply! And the way these experiences are written? It's like having my brain exposed. I particularly loved how all these things that we (I) usually hate about ourselves (myself), all these "issues" that inhibit the lives of many, are reimagined as supernatural abilities. While still maintaining all the struggles and difficulties of experiencing/having them! The side characters are equally delightful, and I especially adored Layla, the Afghan best friend. She's a MUSLIM who wears HIJAB, just like me!!! :D 

Told mostly from Aiden's POV, I felt like I've been living in her brain these past few days. Somewhere between the relatability and immersion, I lost distinction between reading and experiencing. Where did I end and where did Aiden start? I both experienced her as a real person and experienced myself AS her. I can't explain. This book is just magic, okay? I felt Aiden's hurt and I felt Aiden's love (especially as her feelings grew for a particular sleep-deprived cinnamon roll). I felt this story with every fiber of my being.

I want to fill my bedroom walls with the words of this book. Not just a few quotes, but I need all 500+ pages of this book layered down as wallpaper.

Props to the author. Because that was incredible.
 

circumstantial and predictable, but still sweet and enjoyable with an important lesson :)

Heavenly Eats is a sweet and wholesome celebration of food and humanity. The main characters are a (rather unconventional) found family of angels and demons who run a supernatural food delivery service. While the plot does focus on the stories of these heavenly beings, the main attraction is the stories of their human customers. Each customer brings an individualized story that portrays a different way of life - in the most beautiful and authentic of ways! Many of these stories are based on real people and events! The stories are filled with life lessons, important reminders and advice (without sounding pompous or condescending) and they fill you with all the warmth, love and bittersweet happiness of life :') You can learn a lot about food, especially Korean food, and life from these pages. The food drawings and descriptions are DROOL-WORTHY, and I recommend having something to snack on as you read (and maybe a tissue or two for the more emotional tales). Another really cool thing is how all the stories are interconnected!!! Linked by food and mundanity, this webtoon is a TRUE tribute to existence <3