katiemack's reviews
1288 reviews

I'm not going to rate this because I feel conflicted. On one hand, the writing (even with a ghostwriter) feels somewhat juvenile. On the other, the raw feelings and vulnerability expressed--made even more affecting by Michelle Williams' excellent narration--made me feel many things (mostly rage at all of the men in Britney's life). At five hours, it's definitely worth a listen. 

Brandy Sandy’s character inferiority, romantic plotting, and political intrigue could be stronger—but those last 200 pages! Wow! 

I highly recommend the audiobook—the main narrator is fantastic, and the way the cast performs the sports show segments (complete with theme songs) is engaging and fun. 

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is incredibly silly (and I mean that in the best way); the grumpy-sunshine dynamic works well here in that Alfie is not a toxic alpha-male and Milly is not a vapid doormat. Their chemistry is solid—though the plot points propelling their relationship forward are tenuous—and I found myself rooting for them. Also, the Ted Lasso homage is a fun bonus. 

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is sweet and heartfelt; I appreciate Jimena's vulnerability in what is, undoubtedly, a horrifically stressful situation, but I also loved the banter and realistic development of her and Vitaly's relationship (well, except for the ending...which feels rushed and slightly dissatisfying). Also, I'm a big fan of the Spanish dialogue remaining intact; I think it'll help a lot of YA readers see themselves in Jimena. 

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is deeply moving and engaging; I can see Kaveh Akbar's poetic impulses at work here in the different POVs and descriptions. Admittedly, I found Orkideh's chapters the most intriguing, but the way Akbar interweaves them with Cyrus' personal journey is masterful. 

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is cute and fluffy and full of shenanigans, but I also enjoyed seeing Zoey and Davy's feelings for one another grow. Their faults and anxieties are also realistic (despite the outlandish setting), which I appreciated. 

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I wish the writing were stronger and more polished—there are a noticeable amount of plot holes and inconsistencies as well as some clunky prose—because the narrative drive is compelling. The tense atmosphere is described well, as are the family/cultural dynamics, so this was both a quick and entertaining read. 

This is the kind of thing I would have adored had I read it when I was a literary-theory-immersed English-major undergrad. Also, the second half is far more interesting than the first. 

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I wish there had been more of a focus on Darcy and Oliver’s relationship (feels pretty insta-lovey; I wanted to see more of a connection between them), but this is SO cute overall! I love how supportive Oliver’s friends and family are and how many allies he has. The parallels between this and the original P&P are fun too.