The Perfect Marriage by Adam Mitzner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars I didn't find myself particularly moved by this book at all. It was a good story, but it wasn't much more than that. There was enough going on to keep me engaged as the plot moved forward, but I kept waiting for a moment that would make me feel hooked, and it never really came. Maybe it's because I felt disconnected from the characters. They had a lot of drama but not much depth. The fact that Owen is a student at my old high school added a personal touch of nostalgia that I appreciated, but I wanted more from these characters overall. I didn't hate the novel, but I didn't love it, either. View all my reviews
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King of Hearts by Christina C. Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars If there's one thing that can be said about Christina C. Jones, it's that she always, always delivers. This sweet and sultry follow-up to Ante Up consists of three parallel short stories, each taking place in the three days surrounding Valentine's Day. In story #1, King of Diamonds, we are reacquainted with the fiery King and Asha, and oh how sweet of a reunion it was! We're briefly tossed back into their rollercoaster ride of a romance as they finally break through the last remnants of resistance. Story #2, King of Clubs, gives us a glimpse into the love life of Asha's roommate, Camille. While in the midst of preparing for her big Valentine's Day show, Camille finds herself embroiled in a mystery; who is this new secret admirer and what exactly are their intentions? And then finally, the pièce de résistance, the icing on the cake and the cherry on top is the story that shares a title with this collection, King of Hearts. This steamy story brings us into the world of King's older sister Zora and her business associate, Trei. A difference in age and the need to be professional have kept these long-time acquaintances apart, but an important meeting between the two ends up being more about pleasure than business. Christina C. Jones structured these stories like a pro. The first two were like foreplay, punctuated by the sweet euphoria of something fruity and high grade (roll one if you got it). The last story was the main event, the big show, the fireworks spectacular. I love this world, I love these characters, and I love this High Stakes collection. Just as before, I am quite excited to read the next book in this series. View all my reviews
Luster by Raven Leilani
My rating: 3 of 5 stars Luster is an undoubtedly entertaining novel, particularly if you're the type who loves to see things crash and burn. Edie's life is an absolute train wreck. She makes poor decision after poor decision and doesn't seem at all interested in trying to course correct. The woman's a hot mess. The kind of mess that some may find relatable, but most would judge harshly. Edie is quite a character, and I could easily see her story as an indie movie or limited series starring Sasheer Zamata. This dark comedy veers decidedly on the darker side. There were brief moments of eye-popping humor. But there were way more "WTF?!" moments - moments so heavy with dysfunction, so laced with trauma that you can't help but squirm a bit. Edie's a highly sexual tortured artist whose libido-driven decision-making leads her to homelessness and eventually forces her to live with her married lover and their adopted Black child. Her lover, Eric, may have a race fetish, but most definitely has a lot of issues. His wife Rebecca is a cold, controlling, Type A personality who is clearly unsatisfied with her family life. And poor, pre-pubescent Akilah has to manage their dysfunction while also struggling with her racial identity. Everyone in this novel needed a hug and a good dose of therapy. Raven Leilani's writing style took a while for me to settle into. There were moments where Leilani's words were like poetry, subtle yet powerful. We were smack dab in the middle of Edie's mind; the reader is made privy to every thought. While this gave us great insight into Edie's layered complexities, at times it became a bit too much. Leiliani over-employs the use of run-on sentences in order to convey Edie's chaotic stream of consciousness, and sometimes the train would veer so far off the tracks that my eyes would glaze over. Some chapters felt exhausting to get through. That being said, I never once considered giving up on the book altogether. I needed to see where things went with Edie, Eric, Rebecca, and Akilah. I needed to see if there would be any respite from the chaos. I needed to see if Edie ever got her shit together. This is all to say that I was hooked, even if something in me was resisting. In the end, my heart was warmed by witnessing the unfolding of Edie and Akilah's friendship; that was the bright glimmer of hope that led me through the novel's darkness. View all my reviews
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars What is the cost of the American Dream? Of uprooting your family, letting go of all that you hold dear, all that anchors you? This novel is a powerful and poignant read wherein a Ghanaian family's story is told through the eyes of its youngest, Gifty. While trying to complete her doctoral neuroscience research, Gifty struggles to shoulder the unyielding burden of abandonment, drug addiction, depression, and loss that has essentially torn her family apart. There is a brilliant moment in the novel where Gifty, feeling like a fish out of water at a dinner party full of literati, mockingly narrates her experience of listening to them rave about allegories. Here, the novel becomes self aware, and Gyasi uses the phrase "generational trauma among diasporic communities". This is precisely what this novel was - a transfixing tale about the unspoken traumas often wrought by the push and pull of the American Dream. The separation of families from their homelands, the separation of family members from each other, can set in motion a chain of events that unwittingly leads to tragedy. But, as a coping and survival mechanism, all too often these tragedies are left unspoken, cast aside in favor of the narrative of triumph and success in the face of struggle. Gifty channels her almost obsessive preoccupation with her brother's untimely death and her mother's depression into her work. Through her neuroscience research, which is pretty much all Gifty makes space for in her life, we get a glimpse into the psyche of a woman trying her hardest to work through her trauma while holding what's left of her family (and her belief in God) together. The writing is breathtaking; Gyasi masterfully weaves together past and present, the voice of Gifty's inner child propelling the story along in a way that leaves the reader enraptured. Gifty may put on a brave face for the world, but her pain is palpable. I personally found this novel to be eerily relatable. While this novel would be an enriching read for people of all backgrounds, Gyasi spoke to an experience that truly hit home for me as a Black first generation American. I saw my family in Gifty's family and I saw myself in Gifty. Though at points I found myself feeling choked up - and I might have shed a tear or two - by the novel's end I felt at peace. This isn't a novel that is chock full of action; it is meditative and introspective, and if you're willing to sit with the story for a while, it can be quite a beautiful journey. View all my reviews
Ante Up by Christina C. Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars I am absolutely enamored with King and Asha. Two sexy, strong-willed, fiery spirits, burdened by their demons, fighting the push and pull of an inevitable romance. The tension is palpable. King and Asha are drawn into each other's worlds and neither can resist the urge to tear down the other's walls. They're pulled into a romance that forces both of them to be vulnerable, to drop the poker faces and trust that their hearts are safe in the other's hands. This novel was a thrilling ride with intriguing characters and a plot that had me perched precariously at the edge of my seat. Someone needs to turn this book into a movie, seriously. I am so happy that this is the first in a series because I'm literally craving more of King and Asha. The romance between them had the kind of dark, electric kind of energy that I find utterly delicious. More, please! View all my reviews |
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July 2021
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