skudiklier's reviews
617 reviews

I'm not sure how I felt about this book! It took me a while to get into it and it definitely wasn't my favorite, but it's also a type of book I don't read very often. I thought it was funny and entertaining and I liked a lot of the characters. It really picked up in the second half for me and I read nearly all of that in one day. (A day I was on a plane and too tired to do anything but read, but still.)

The absurdity/satire was done well I think. One thing that felt a little off to me is that it just felt *so* written by a man, if that makes sense? Not in a bad way necessarily--it's not like it was sexist or anything. But the first-person narrator is a woman and I just...couldn't buy it. I'm not one for gender essentialism (I'm literally trans and genderfluid lmao) but I just kept feeling like the voice of the book was a straight man. But it wasn't a big deal or enough to take me out of the book too often.

Anyway! Overall I liked it, if not enthusiastically. If this is the kind of book you're into I'd recommend it, but for anyone like me who isn't sure if they're really interested, I'd say you don't need to try.

I absolutely loved this! What a perfect romance. I couldn't put it down and I definitely want to read Rachel Lynn Solomon's other books.

Vague semi spoilers ahead:

I could sense the third act breakup coming and was really worried I'd hate it and it would seem forced, but it actually made sense and wasn't frustrating at all. It was realistic instead of overblown and the characters just seem so...reasonable? Like they actually like each other??

That just cemented how much I loved this book.

This is a critical read for anyone in the US. I'd recommend it to literally anyone--although some of it is absolutely infuriating and really difficult to read, I think especially for white people in the US/people descended from settlers, it's essential regardless of how it makes you feel.

This reframes the history of the entirety of the United States in terms of it as a settler colonial state that committed genocide against Native Americans. I wish every school in America taught US history from this perspective. I'm glad to hear there's also a "for young readers" version of this book so that there's one kids can read in school.

Despite this one feeling longer and a bit slower than the previous books, it might have been my favorite? I like how Tamlin's character evolves, I like the twists, I like the complicated politics of the war and everyone's relationships.

I absolutely loved this book. I found it super interesting and I feel like it's helpful for people to read and think about even if you're not in the midst of an active problem you're trying to solve. Nagoski takes a radically open approach to things like sex, desire, and gender, and really breaks down a lot of the socially ingrained things people think they "should" feel or do with regard to sex. This is a perspective I think everyone needs to hear, and I took a lot of notes. Each chapter also helpfully has a tl;dr at the end so you can reference key points later.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the chance to read and review this ARC.

This book delivered on its premise, and definitely kept me engaged! I was furious throughout most of it at the unfairness of everything, and I really wanted to know what had happened in the past that was kept secret through the first half of the book. Overall though a lot of this felt a little too YA for me. I liked it but I'm not sure I'd actively recommend it to anyone. It was pretty hard to read at some points but strikes a good balance of trying to be realistic and not sugarcoating things, while also leaving some hope and a (vague spoilers)

sort of happy ending.

 

Aaaa I love this so much. Salem's poetry is always amazing but there's something about this collection that really got to me. I really relate to so much of their writing about change, gender, climate change, nostalgia, community....it's gorgeous and haunting and packs so much into so few words. I want everyone to read this.

I loved this! It was great to see some of Trista's work I'd seen before as well as a lot I hadn't. It made me interested in the projects that were abandoned, and I love the way this is structured (non-chronologically). I'd definitely recommend this to poetry readers, but especially long-time fans of Trista.

I don't know how to feel about this book! It was really good and in some ways better than the first one. But I also really wasn't prepared for it to immediately undo the HEA of the previous book?? That feels like a no-no for a romance series ksldjsflj I'm not gonna lie. Kind of made me frustrated with the first book's ending. But? It also makes sense and the relationship here is more healthy. I just feel weird about going from liking Tamlin to hating him. I wish his character maybe could have been handled differently even if she didn't end up with him.

Anyway. Definitely excited to continue the series! I just felt a little weird about that. And also I read this a few weeks ago at this point so my review is probably different than it would have been if I'd written it right after finishing it.

I really liked this! It was interesting how the author tried to make it semi-realistic while also knowing that having a trans person in this time period be accepted would be hard and complicated. I read this while sick and it was a nice fluffy romance that still had enough substance to keep me interested. Would definitely read more like this from this author!