Scan barcode
katiemack's reviews
1288 reviews
The Gentleman's Book of Vices by Jess Everlee
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I've been saving this book to read when I needed a pick-me-up, and I'm glad I did because it's absolutely delightful.
Charles is extravagant and flamboyant in a very lovable way; he also has a strong moral compass, as he has agreed to marry Alma, a woman he does not love romantically but thinks of as a sister and wants to protect. Miles, an author and bookstore purveyor who lost his love years earlier, is more reserved and cautious but equally as compelling. Their romance is sweet and has palpable chemistry, and I enjoyed reading about them as their relationship develops over the course of the novel. The ending is dramatic, but entertainingly so, and I love how Jess Everlee incorporates the side characters throughout the story and uses them to resolve this ending.
Grab this if you love books by Cat Sebastian, Keira Andrews, or K. J. Charles.
I've been saving this book to read when I needed a pick-me-up, and I'm glad I did because it's absolutely delightful.
Charles is extravagant and flamboyant in a very lovable way; he also has a strong moral compass, as he has agreed to marry Alma, a woman he does not love romantically but thinks of as a sister and wants to protect. Miles, an author and bookstore purveyor who lost his love years earlier, is more reserved and cautious but equally as compelling. Their romance is sweet and has palpable chemistry, and I enjoyed reading about them as their relationship develops over the course of the novel. The ending is dramatic, but entertainingly so, and I love how Jess Everlee incorporates the side characters throughout the story and uses them to resolve this ending.
Grab this if you love books by Cat Sebastian, Keira Andrews, or K. J. Charles.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Death
Sparrows in the Wind by Gail Carson Levine
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I read a lot of Gail Carson Levine books when I was a kid, so I requested this one knowing I'd enjoy her writing style, which lends itself to this type of fantasy. Also, having just read Song of Achilles, I was eager to read more about the cast of characters involved in the Trojan War.
I appreciate that she stipulates in her Author's Note which material she researched and which she imagined for the story. Rin and Cassandra are both depicted as strong young women with a decent amount of agency for the time, and I think middle-grade readers will appreciate that. While the second part seemed less robust than the first, I enjoyed reading about both characters and the way their stories intertwined.
This is a welcome addition to any middle-grade library (or for adults who love Greek mythology).
I read a lot of Gail Carson Levine books when I was a kid, so I requested this one knowing I'd enjoy her writing style, which lends itself to this type of fantasy. Also, having just read Song of Achilles, I was eager to read more about the cast of characters involved in the Trojan War.
I appreciate that she stipulates in her Author's Note which material she researched and which she imagined for the story. Rin and Cassandra are both depicted as strong young women with a decent amount of agency for the time, and I think middle-grade readers will appreciate that. While the second part seemed less robust than the first, I enjoyed reading about both characters and the way their stories intertwined.
This is a welcome addition to any middle-grade library (or for adults who love Greek mythology).
Authentically, Izzy by Pepper Basham
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I like epistolary novels, so I enjoyed the email/text format. The switch from email to narration 60% of the way through the book was jarring, though. Also, while the correspondence between Izzy and Brodie is cute, the language feels overly flowery, like it belongs more in a historical/period romance than a contemporary one. This style continues when Izzy emails her cousins (one of whom lives in the same town as her?), who annoyed me at times--the sarcastic Luke is the soothing balm that kept me reading.
It's a cute read, but the idiosyncrasies put me off. Also, just to reiterate, this is a clean romance, so no spice (which I knew going into it) if that's what you need from your romance novels.
I like epistolary novels, so I enjoyed the email/text format. The switch from email to narration 60% of the way through the book was jarring, though. Also, while the correspondence between Izzy and Brodie is cute, the language feels overly flowery, like it belongs more in a historical/period romance than a contemporary one. This style continues when Izzy emails her cousins (one of whom lives in the same town as her?), who annoyed me at times--the sarcastic Luke is the soothing balm that kept me reading.
It's a cute read, but the idiosyncrasies put me off. Also, just to reiterate, this is a clean romance, so no spice (which I knew going into it) if that's what you need from your romance novels.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity
Fatty Fatty Boom Boom: A Memoir of Food, Fat, and Family by Rabia Chaudry
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I, like many readers, know Rabia Chaudry from her involvement with the Serial-famous case of Adnan Syed. But she is highly successful in her own right, and I enjoyed not only reading about her career path, but also her life growing up in Pakistan and the U.S.--and how much food played into it.
Along with a compelling narrative drive, Chaudry's descriptions of food are the highlights of this book. My mouth watered any time she painstakingly described how her mom cooked the perfect shorba or the journeys she and her uncles went on to get pulao and pakoray. (It made me long for my mother-in-law's cooking.) Equally as visceral are the times she describes her binging American fast food and treats and the hold it had on her.
There are obvious TWs for eating disorders and fat-shaming here as well as one for domestic abuse--Chaudry's first marriage is a toxic one that she spends little time on, for good reason--but her memoir is unflinching and feels incredibly relatable.
I, like many readers, know Rabia Chaudry from her involvement with the Serial-famous case of Adnan Syed. But she is highly successful in her own right, and I enjoyed not only reading about her career path, but also her life growing up in Pakistan and the U.S.--and how much food played into it.
Along with a compelling narrative drive, Chaudry's descriptions of food are the highlights of this book. My mouth watered any time she painstakingly described how her mom cooked the perfect shorba or the journeys she and her uncles went on to get pulao and pakoray. (It made me long for my mother-in-law's cooking.) Equally as visceral are the times she describes her binging American fast food and treats and the hold it had on her.
There are obvious TWs for eating disorders and fat-shaming here as well as one for domestic abuse--Chaudry's first marriage is a toxic one that she spends little time on, for good reason--but her memoir is unflinching and feels incredibly relatable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Fatphobia
Moderate: Domestic abuse
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Listening to this book gave me whiplash. I spent a lot of time cringing at the stereotypes and then, abruptly, it would pivot to a poignant discussion about grief and loss. There's also some strange POV bits happening--almost all of the book is from Patrick's POV, but there are some spots that seem to be from Clara's or Greg's? Overall, it's cute, and from the way he narrates the book it's clear that Steven Rowley cares deeply for his characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
How Sex Changed the Internet and the Internet Changed Sex by Samantha Cole
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is an accessible, visually appealing read. It feels like a (very) long magazine article in that it covers many topics briefly--I expected some more in-depth examination but appreciated the amount of facts--and is interspersed with glossary boxes and photos. Parts are technical and dry, but I enjoyed learning about the history of sex and its dissemination through technology (or an interpretation of technology)--my favorites are the description of sexual content in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and an examination of today's games and the Deepfake phenomenon.
This is an accessible, visually appealing read. It feels like a (very) long magazine article in that it covers many topics briefly--I expected some more in-depth examination but appreciated the amount of facts--and is interspersed with glossary boxes and photos. Parts are technical and dry, but I enjoyed learning about the history of sex and its dissemination through technology (or an interpretation of technology)--my favorites are the description of sexual content in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and an examination of today's games and the Deepfake phenomenon.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
Never Rescue a Rogue by Virginia Heath
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This worked better for me than Minerva and Hugh's story, mostly because Diana and Giles are both more competent and have better chemistry (and are less annoying). There are still some frustrating moments of miscommunication between the couple, but the underlying mystery of Giles' parentage (fueled by Diana's dogged determination to uncover the truth) buoys the story and keeps it compelling. Plus, the butler-cum-Watson character, Dalton, is a hilarious supporting character.
I appreciate that Virginia Heath foreshadows the next book in her series, so I look forward to reading about Vee and Galahad.
This worked better for me than Minerva and Hugh's story, mostly because Diana and Giles are both more competent and have better chemistry (and are less annoying). There are still some frustrating moments of miscommunication between the couple, but the underlying mystery of Giles' parentage (fueled by Diana's dogged determination to uncover the truth) buoys the story and keeps it compelling. Plus, the butler-cum-Watson character, Dalton, is a hilarious supporting character.
I appreciate that Virginia Heath foreshadows the next book in her series, so I look forward to reading about Vee and Galahad.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
At this point, I'll read anything Madeline Miller writes.
Gorgeous and vulnerable and heart-wrenching, much like (but not quite as impactful as) Circe.
Gorgeous and vulnerable and heart-wrenching, much like (but not quite as impactful as) Circe.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first Alexa Martin book I've read. The strongest aspects of it are Martin's depictions of grief and the challenges of toxic family dynamics--the revelation with the will is a refreshing twist--and I loved Drew's relationship with her sister, her best friend, and even the "Dirty Birds" book club that prowls the store. Unfortunately, I didn't care about the romance because I wasn't invested in Jasper; the two of them seem cute together, but I felt like I didn't get to know Jasper at all. It's more surface-level than I was expecting, which made their conflict feel manufactured.
Overall this is a quick, sweet read that would be good to pick up for an afternoon.
This is the first Alexa Martin book I've read. The strongest aspects of it are Martin's depictions of grief and the challenges of toxic family dynamics--the revelation with the will is a refreshing twist--and I loved Drew's relationship with her sister, her best friend, and even the "Dirty Birds" book club that prowls the store. Unfortunately, I didn't care about the romance because I wasn't invested in Jasper; the two of them seem cute together, but I felt like I didn't get to know Jasper at all. It's more surface-level than I was expecting, which made their conflict feel manufactured.
Overall this is a quick, sweet read that would be good to pick up for an afternoon.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death
The Women of Rothschild: The Untold Story of the World's Most Famous Dynasty by Natalie Livingstone
informative
slow-paced
4.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is one thoroughly researched history book! The level of detail with which Natalie Livingstone describes the lesser-known women of the Rothschild banking empire is astounding. While it is dense and not good for a casual read, I enjoyed learning about the Rothschilds, their business practices, and (especially) their family drama. I appreciated how Livingstone highlighted the accomplishments and influence of the women--who were literally written out of the business in the patriarch's will--and how the Rothschild enterprises wouldn't have been nearly as successful without them.
TW for inbreeding, I suppose, and death. Lots of death.
This is one thoroughly researched history book! The level of detail with which Natalie Livingstone describes the lesser-known women of the Rothschild banking empire is astounding. While it is dense and not good for a casual read, I enjoyed learning about the Rothschilds, their business practices, and (especially) their family drama. I appreciated how Livingstone highlighted the accomplishments and influence of the women--who were literally written out of the business in the patriarch's will--and how the Rothschild enterprises wouldn't have been nearly as successful without them.
TW for inbreeding, I suppose, and death. Lots of death.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Incest