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katiemack's reviews
1288 reviews
Savor: A Chef's Hunger for More by Fatima Ali
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've been putting this one off because I knew it would make me cry. And cry I did.
I expected this to be a poignant, moving memoir about Fatima Ali's upbringing in Pakistan and the US, her journey as a chef and connoisseur of food, and her time on Chopped and Top Chef. But I didn't anticipate how moving her mother's chapters would be; her additional perspective adds depth to the reader's perception of Fatima, of her strength, conviction, and zeal for life. I also didn't expect to become angrier than I already am at our healthcare system and the joke that is private insurance; the US and Pakistan both fail Fatima in myriad ways during her life, but I am far more incensed at her experience in what are supposed to be some of the best hospitals and medical centers in our country.
If you don't mind crying rivulets of tears (which will manifest the most during the last quarter of this book), pick this one up.
I've been putting this one off because I knew it would make me cry. And cry I did.
I expected this to be a poignant, moving memoir about Fatima Ali's upbringing in Pakistan and the US, her journey as a chef and connoisseur of food, and her time on Chopped and Top Chef. But I didn't anticipate how moving her mother's chapters would be; her additional perspective adds depth to the reader's perception of Fatima, of her strength, conviction, and zeal for life. I also didn't expect to become angrier than I already am at our healthcare system and the joke that is private insurance; the US and Pakistan both fail Fatima in myriad ways during her life, but I am far more incensed at her experience in what are supposed to be some of the best hospitals and medical centers in our country.
If you don't mind crying rivulets of tears (which will manifest the most during the last quarter of this book), pick this one up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Death and Sexual assault
Self-Portrait with Nothing by Aimee Pokwatka
adventurous
mysterious
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
3.75
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Based on the marketing, I expected this to have more horror elements, but the concept (which I won't spoil here) is innovative and has a sci-fi bent. (Think: twist on alternate universes.) Even though the attempts at genre-mixing fall flat at times, the narrative is strong enough that I was able to finish this in a day. Pepper's relationship with her husband Ike is sweet and relatable, and even though the format of their texts drove me nuts, their conversations add some levity to the plot. The ending is flat and disappointing, but it doesn't ruin the rest of the book.
Based on the marketing, I expected this to have more horror elements, but the concept (which I won't spoil here) is innovative and has a sci-fi bent. (Think: twist on alternate universes.) Even though the attempts at genre-mixing fall flat at times, the narrative is strong enough that I was able to finish this in a day. Pepper's relationship with her husband Ike is sweet and relatable, and even though the format of their texts drove me nuts, their conversations add some levity to the plot. The ending is flat and disappointing, but it doesn't ruin the rest of the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
A Sliver of Darkness by C.J. Tudor
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Horror novels are great, but there's something so satisfying about being able to move from one terrifying scenario to the next in quick succession.
C. J. Tudor does an excellent job with a small amount of pages; her settings, world-building, and--most importantly--ability to create an ominous sense of dread all come through in her work. Each story is slightly different in its tone and the themes it covers--some are more gory; some rely on psychological horror; some are funny with incidental horror. Her introduction before each story also enriches them and makes them more enjoyable.
As with any collection, some of the stories are stronger than others; standouts for me are "End of the Liner," "Final Course," and "The Copy Shop." But they are all Solid Spooky Season Stories.
Horror novels are great, but there's something so satisfying about being able to move from one terrifying scenario to the next in quick succession.
C. J. Tudor does an excellent job with a small amount of pages; her settings, world-building, and--most importantly--ability to create an ominous sense of dread all come through in her work. Each story is slightly different in its tone and the themes it covers--some are more gory; some rely on psychological horror; some are funny with incidental horror. Her introduction before each story also enriches them and makes them more enjoyable.
As with any collection, some of the stories are stronger than others; standouts for me are "End of the Liner," "Final Course," and "The Copy Shop." But they are all Solid Spooky Season Stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Murder
Friends Like These by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The mystery here--Where is Tegan? Who killed [character name removed for spoilers]?--is compelling enough that it would probably entertain fans of Karen McManus or Holly Jackson. For me, this didn't do enough to stand out in the plethora of YA mysteries that have come out in the last five years or so. The unreliable narrator trope makes the story more intriguing, but I didn't care what happened to the characters because everyone had at least one aspect that made them wholly unlikeable. I'm all for realism (no one is perfect), but they didn't have anything to make them interesting either. Plus, the suspension of disbelief asked of the reader is, well, almost too much to keep the story going.
The mystery here--Where is Tegan? Who killed [character name removed for spoilers]?--is compelling enough that it would probably entertain fans of Karen McManus or Holly Jackson. For me, this didn't do enough to stand out in the plethora of YA mysteries that have come out in the last five years or so. The unreliable narrator trope makes the story more intriguing, but I didn't care what happened to the characters because everyone had at least one aspect that made them wholly unlikeable. I'm all for realism (no one is perfect), but they didn't have anything to make them interesting either. Plus, the suspension of disbelief asked of the reader is, well, almost too much to keep the story going.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Murder
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Cozy, fun, and lives up to the hype!
The Stand-Up Groomsman by Jackie Lau
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
5.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
I've had the formula for "The Type of Romance Novel Katie Would Most Enjoy" set for several years--grumpy, brooding guy initially dislikes but comes to love funny, sunshine gal who brings out his caring and emotional side and gets him out of his shell. But gender doesn't matter in this formula, and The Stand-Up Groomsman proves that.
The story starts out, well, not promisingly--the bubbly, funny Mel immediately insults "Ice Queen" Vivian and belittles her career choice--but the way Jackie Lau develops their eventual relationship feels organic. The pacing is realistic. They text a little about the bachelor/ette parties; they progress to sending each other funny pictures or comments, and eventually their chemistry culminates at the wedding.
It's a pleasure to watch these two folks (who are both queer--an added bonus, as Lau incorporates this into the story and doesn't just mention it once time for the sake of tokenism) reveal their trust, their vulnerability, and their affection for one another. There's little drama, but the conflict that exists serves to allow Mel and Vivian to deal with their trauma and realize what they want and need out of a romantic relationship. The ending is unconventional but satisfying; I read this in a day, so I felt like I had experienced a loss when the story was over.
I haven't read Donut Fall in Love, and I almost don't want to at this point because I'm happy with how I perceive Mel and Vivian (and I think both of them feature in the previous book). But readers who read and enjoyed that book may enjoy this one too.
I've had the formula for "The Type of Romance Novel Katie Would Most Enjoy" set for several years--grumpy, brooding guy initially dislikes but comes to love funny, sunshine gal who brings out his caring and emotional side and gets him out of his shell. But gender doesn't matter in this formula, and The Stand-Up Groomsman proves that.
The story starts out, well, not promisingly--the bubbly, funny Mel immediately insults "Ice Queen" Vivian and belittles her career choice--but the way Jackie Lau develops their eventual relationship feels organic. The pacing is realistic. They text a little about the bachelor/ette parties; they progress to sending each other funny pictures or comments, and eventually their chemistry culminates at the wedding.
It's a pleasure to watch these two folks (who are both queer--an added bonus, as Lau incorporates this into the story and doesn't just mention it once time for the sake of tokenism) reveal their trust, their vulnerability, and their affection for one another. There's little drama, but the conflict that exists serves to allow Mel and Vivian to deal with their trauma and realize what they want and need out of a romantic relationship. The ending is unconventional but satisfying; I read this in a day, so I felt like I had experienced a loss when the story was over.
I haven't read Donut Fall in Love, and I almost don't want to at this point because I'm happy with how I perceive Mel and Vivian (and I think both of them feature in the previous book). But readers who read and enjoyed that book may enjoy this one too.
Spectred Isle by KJ Charles
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I enjoyed the romance and the overall premise, but it took me a while (about 25-30% of the way through the book) to get into the story--it feels like K.J. Charles drops the reader into the middle of a story. I haven't, however, read The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal, and that prior knowledge seems to be an integral part of why so many readers with positive reviews enjoyed the book. Maybe I'll read that one and come back to this...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
A Murder at Balmoral by Chris McGeorge
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.25
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fun mystery set within an alternative history (i.e., who would be the ruler of England if King Edward VIII hadn't abdicated the throne?), and I like that a character of color played the main investigator and protagonist; however, poor Jon is absolutely put through the wringer. He works tirelessly for King Eric and meticulously interviews each member of the family about his murder (making the book tedious at times, honestly), and his ending is...tough. I won't spoil it, but I felt like he deserved better and didn't care for the other characters. There are some twists I didn't anticipate, but the villains are also a little...cartoonish and cruel.
This is a fun mystery set within an alternative history (i.e., who would be the ruler of England if King Edward VIII hadn't abdicated the throne?), and I like that a character of color played the main investigator and protagonist; however, poor Jon is absolutely put through the wringer. He works tirelessly for King Eric and meticulously interviews each member of the family about his murder (making the book tedious at times, honestly), and his ending is...tough. I won't spoil it, but I felt like he deserved better and didn't care for the other characters. There are some twists I didn't anticipate, but the villains are also a little...cartoonish and cruel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Black Paradox by 伊藤潤二, Junji Ito
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
It's fun to read another Junji Ito work that's one coherent thread instead of multiple short stories. Even though it lacks some of the punch of his other books, I felt like I was able to go on a more gentle, in-depth ride into this strange world where people vomit the souls of other beings trapped in harder-than-diamond, extremely valuable stones. Ito explores the ethics of such an endeavor in a sardonic, nasty way.
It's fun to read another Junji Ito work that's one coherent thread instead of multiple short stories. Even though it lacks some of the punch of his other books, I felt like I was able to go on a more gentle, in-depth ride into this strange world where people vomit the souls of other beings trapped in harder-than-diamond, extremely valuable stones. Ito explores the ethics of such an endeavor in a sardonic, nasty way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Brutal--and, at times, hard to follow--but beautiful. Fatimah Asghar's poetry background comes out with their lyrical prose and their handling of different formats of storytelling. Trigger warnings abound; the book covers abuse, neglect, sexual assault, loss, and more with little hope.
Brutal--and, at times, hard to follow--but beautiful. Fatimah Asghar's poetry background comes out with their lyrical prose and their handling of different formats of storytelling. Trigger warnings abound; the book covers abuse, neglect, sexual assault, loss, and more with little hope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Grief, and Death of parent