Tag Archives: 4 stars

In a Holidaze — Christina Lauren

“The only person whose expectations you have to live up to is yourself.”

Genre: Romance, Comedy
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: None that I can think of.

Have you ever seen a time-loop kind of movie? Like Groundhog Day or Before I Fall? Well, this is just that but in a book, and surrounding the holidays. This book follows Maelyn Jones as she is stuck reliving her Christmas holiday week after wishing for a shot to find happiness. And oh, does she find it.

“In a Holidaze” did not take the path I thought it would. Maelyn does not end up with who I thought she would end up with, but good for her, I guess. I liked it anyways.

This is a light, funny read, set in a cozy cabin in the middle of Utah. It’s literally a perfect holiday read. It’s surrounding Christmas but isn’t solely about the holiday, and it’s short and snappy. I mean, what can I say? The duo Christina Lauren never disappoints.

I would recommend this book to people who’ve read other Christina Lauren books and loved them. I would not necessarily recommend this be your first exposure to the authors, as they have longer, better-constructed books (like “The Unhoneymooners” or “The Soulmate Equation”), but “In a Holidaze” is a good holiday-y read.

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ARC — This World Does Not Belong to Us — Natalia García Freire, translated by Victor Meadowcroft

“Don’t you think that, after our deaths, after everything, it is they who are the stronger ones? And that, all things considered, perhaps this world does not belong to us, but to those miniscule beings, so numerous that they could bury us completely if they ever came together.”

Genre: Fiction
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: Discusses death. Also, insects and dead animals are prominent topics, if you have a phobia related to any insect, don’t read this book.

“This World Does Not Belong to Us” follows Lucas as he visits his childhood home after he was sent off and sold into slavery. Since then, his father has died and his mother has been labeled a madwoman—oh, and two strangers they had invited into their home years back are now permanently living it.

This book is deeply troubled and yet somehow beautifully poetic. It feels like it’s Lucas’s way of grieving not only his father’s death but all he lost when he was sent away. Between a series of flashbacks, Lucas relives the days he spent in the home that is no longer his.

I would recommend this book to people who like magical realism. So, people who have enjoyed books by authors like Gabriel García Márquez, Carlos Fuentes, and Isabel Allende. These books are filled with absurd circumstances that are portrayed as if they’re not absurd at all. I can see why this debut novel is so highly acclaimed in its original language, congratulations to Natalia García Freire and thanks to Victor Meadowcroft for this beautiful translation.

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ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: May 03, 2022

ARC — Bet on It — Jodie Slaughter

“To her, it didn’t seem fair that someone could be in your life for such a short amount of time but still upend it completely.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: Discusses mental illness, panic attacks, drug abuse, and child endangerment (These were stated at the beginning of the book, 10/10 for that).

This book follows Aja Owens, who just moved to the small town of Greenbelt, and Walker Abbott, who swore he would never come back to his hometown of Greenbelt. Walker is the grandson of Aja’s bingo partner and has moved back to Greenbelt temporarily, as he helps his grandma recover from a fall. As Aja and Walker bond over bingo (and their undeniable chemistry), they unintentionally form a pact: they will have sex if and only if one of them wins in bingo… Because they can’t and won’t fall in love. What would be the point? Walker will be leaving soon and Aja still hasn’t found what she’s looking for in small-town living. “Bet on It” is a story of friendship and understanding, bingo and luck. You will be left hanging from your seats, willing for a bingo as soon as possible.

“Bet on It” has been one of the most entertaining books I’ve read this year. If it hadn’t been for other commitments, I would’ve most certainly read it in one sitting. Both Aja and Walker were such related characters for me. They were really well written and I just loved how Jodie Slaughter went out of her way to show how anxiety and panic attacks could look different for different people and how different coping mechanisms are still valid.

I fell in love with the potential Aja and Walker had. They truly complimented each other. It wasn’t just the raw sexual tension between them that tied them together, no. They bonded over their most personal experiences and they tried to be there for each other and be open with each other. Their friendship and relationship was truly amazing to witness.

I would recommend this book to people who like romance books like The Hating Game and who aren’t afraid of some seeeerious sexual tension and restraint. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book.

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ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: July 12, 2022

Head Over Heels — Hannah Orenstein

Genre: Sports Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: Discusses mental health, eating disorders, and verbal, physical, and sexual abuse.

“Head Over Heels” follows retired gymnast Avery Abrams, who almost made it to the Olympics—but didn’t due to an injury just weeks before the world-class event. Seven years later, after dealing with a rough breakup and moving back in with her parents in her hometown, she is offered the opportunity to help train a rising gymnastics star who is set to make it to the Olympics herself. What she could not fathom was that she’d be training this new gymnast alongside one of her childhood crushes. Will she let herself fall in love again and will she ever come to peace with her past? I guess you’ll have to read the book to find out.

I honestly thoroughly enjoyed this book, it took quite a few turns I wasn’t expecting. Yes, it’s a romance book, but at the same time it’s so much more than that. There are so many important and relevant topics addressed in this book, like eating disorders and abuse within the sports community, and how Olympic athletes lack the resources to work on their mental and sometimes even physical health.

I would recommend this book to anyone who ever dreamed of going to the Olympics (even if they didn’t practice an Olympic sport) or just anyone who’s up for an interesting romance book that’ll tackle more than just sexual tension and romantic relationships.

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Roomies — Christina Lauren

“I’ve never done this before. I just know I’m falling for the girl I married.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: None than I can think of.

“Roomies” follows Holland, an aspiring author who’s working in a Broadway show thanks to some lowkey nepotism, and her subway crush Calvin, a talented classical guitarist who’s overstayed his student visa and is trying to make ends meet in New York City. One thing leads to another, and they end up in a marriage of convenience, where Holland is helping her uncle and Calvin is getting his green card. But after real sparks fly, will they follow through on their plan or will they listen to their hearts?

Oh, wow. I love the Christina Lauren duo. Their writing has always engulfed me, bringing me into whatever world they build. This time around they didn’t disappoint, but at the same time, I think I’ve never been this frustrated with two of their characters before. I’m not sure who messed up more, Calvin or Holland, but HOLY did they mess up. Continuously. Consistently. Making each mess up increasingly worse. The only reason why I’m not giving it a higher rating is because of all the stress and frustration I suffered thanks to their fuck ups. But oh well, it’s a good romance novel when all’s been said and done.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy romance novels, especially if you’ve enjoyed books by authors like Colleen Hoover, Emily Henry, Sally Thorne, or Alexis Daria.

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“Maybe the reason I can’t write about fictional life is because I haven’t actually lived.”

ARC — Open Up — Alex Woodard

“These are tears of unexpected anger.
Anger at what’s happening to her. Anger at the heaviness that buries me in the past, because that’s the only place I can still find her. Anger at my inability to build a bridge between the chasm separating me and these Polaroid versions of me. Anger at my anger, when I have so much to be grateful for.”

Genre: Memoir, Humor, Nonfiction
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: Mentions death, dementia

“Open Up” follows the author, Alex Woodard, and how he grows (as a child actor/line-memorizer, as a singer-songwriter) and fucks up and gets better and deals with his family and relationships and heartbreak and lowkey childhood trauma.

This memoir was wonderfully written, it was almost poetic. I really enjoyed the pictures at the end of some chapters (especially the Skippy one, I’m sorry).

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes funny memoirs or slice-of-life literature, especially if they have an interest in dementia and how it affects family members even in the most subtle of ways. No, dementia isn’t really the main topic here, but it’s like it’s been interwoven into the essential fabric of this memoir. Either way, it’s a really good book.

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ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

p.s. the chapters “Emily” and “The Sender” absolutely destroyed me. What a beautiful letter, what a beautiful song.

Publication Date: November 20, 2020

ARC — Revenge Body — Rachel Wiley

“She is a woman because she tells me so. She is a woman because there is no wrong way to woman.”

Genre: Poetry, LGBTQIA
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: Mentions fatphobia, trauma

This poetry collection touches up on subjects like grief, queerness, love (and heartbreak), race, and body image in all its glory. The ocean and sandcastles are definitely a theme here and I love it. I’m a zoologist that works with marine conservation, so I am 100% here for it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes spoken word poetry. Rachel Wiley’s voice can be read just like that. “Revenge Body” is a beautiful collection of heartfelt poetry, filled with highs and lows that are so well written and so meticulously woven together that you can’t help but finish this book in one sitting (I know that’s what I did).

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ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: January 18, 2022