Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars What a refreshingly relevant romance. Our two main characters, Chloe and Red, are endearing in a way that most Millennials will understand well. They're messed up, or so they believe, and their individual struggles with pain, both emotional and physical, stand as an obstacle to them being able to truly open up and trust the other. Headstrong Chloe is burdened by the physical aches of fibromyalgia while Red bears the emotional scars of a traumatic, abusive relationship. As they each try to navigate through their struggles, they find themselves caught in a budding romance. But inevitably, carrying such weighty baggage while grappling with their undeniable feelings for each other leads to wires being crossed, and deep, unhealed emotions to be triggered. Both Chloe and Red are forced to learn how to love each other beyond the struggles of life by letting go of their fears and learning how to trust. I loved the complexity of these characters' struggles because they were so relatable. I felt like both of these characters could've been two people that I went to school with back in the day. They're imperfect, but they're sincere in simply trying to do their best, even as they stumble when it comes to matters of love. Talia Hibbert's writing was also very enjoyable with plenty of levity to keep the overall tenor of the story light-hearted and entertaining, in spite of the depths of our protagonists' physical and mental troubles. This was a beautiful love story, and I found myself rooting for Chloe and Red right until the very end. I'm now a new fan of Talia Hibbert's and I'm eager to delve into the worlds of Chloe's sisters in the following sequels. View all my reviews
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The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
My rating: 5 of 5 stars I was only a child when I decided that the church simply wasn't for me. Even at a young age I recognized that things simply didn't add up; I couldn't reconcile the contradictions that I witnessed around me. I never understood how individuals could cast aspersions and judgments against others one minute and then "sin" so freely the next. I've long come to terms with the contradictory nature of humans, and when I picked up this book I quite honestly reveled in the idea of a collection of juicy stories exposing the salacious deeds of the supposedly pious. What Deesha Philyaw delivered, however, was so much more than that. The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is a beautiful short story collection that explores what's it like to live life caught between the world's expectations and one's deepest desires. Each story is a raw and honest portrait of the ways each woman navigates a social structure that seeks to impose rigid limitations on their existence. Philyaw does an amazing job of humanizing these women; they are more than their contradictions, more than their sins. This book is a serious page-turner. Each story complements the next, remaining true to the theme while also maintaining its uniqueness. Though some stories stand out more than the others ("Eula", "Peach Cobbler", "Snowfall", and "When Eddie Levert Comes" were my favorites), every single story succeeded in capturing and holding my attention throughout. This is a solid, strong, enrapturing collection of stories. I can't wait to read more of what Deesha Philyaw has to offer. View all my reviews
Go Deep by Rilzy Adams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars Go Deep is a sexy friends-to-lovers erotica that also manages to be quite adorable. Facing a career-threatening bout of writer's block, erotic novelist Navaya decides to enlist her best friend Xander for some sexual inspiration. This sets them off on a lusty rollercoaster ride of emotions neither of them had ever allowed themselves to feel, fearing that they'd ruin their life-long friendship. By the end, their lifetime of devotion and irresistible attraction to each other become too overwhelming to ignore. This is a take on a classic trope that was fairly well done but not particularly unique. There aren't any notable twists or turns in the story that sets it apart in any special way. However, the chemistry between Navaya and Xander was intriguing enough to carry the plot. I was admittedly frustrated by their reluctance to just make it official already; their hesitance seemed to be somewhat ridiculous given how close they were. I think it would be more understandable if there were some discernable barrier keeping them from making the move or some external challenge that they needed to overcome. I also found myself annoyed by the typos. I don't usually trip over a couple of misspellings here and there but this book definitely could've used another round of editing. Frustrations aside, it was also great to be along for the ride as Xander and Navaya explored the depths of their sexual attraction. Rilzy Adams can write a sex scene, which honestly is what matters the most for a quick & lighthearted erotic read. Overall, the book was enjoyable and tantalizing enough to hold my attention, and I'll definitely check out more books by this author. View all my reviews
Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour
My rating: 3 of 5 stars I struggled with my feelings about this book from the very beginning, and while I hoped that these feelings would resolve themselves by the end, they did not. One of my biggest struggles was trying to reconcile what I was reading with its categorization as satire. While there were certainly some cute and clever satirical elements, this text fell short of being a cohesive satire for me. Was there comedy? Yes, there were definitely parts that I laughed it. Were there outlandish moments? Certainly. Did I feel like the story's exaggerations produced some profound cultural or structural critique? Not particularly. Especially since some of the most "outlandish" parts felt too realistic while some of the more comedic parts fell flat. I'd categorize this book as a dark comedy with satirical elements, because reading this novel with the constraints of satire in mind caused me to have expectations that weren't fulfilled and which might've actually caused me to enjoy the book less than I would've otherwise. I was expecting the novel to push the envelope in ways that were more meaningful. I also had moments where I struggled to parse out what precisely was being satirized, as any overarching sociocultural critique that I could glean from the novel was contradicted in some way or another by other plot points that would reinforce the very things that I thought were being critiqued. I had too many moments where I was thinking "okay... but what's the point?" when maybe I should've just been accepting what the author was presenting at face value. Part of what contributed to my frustration might've been the fact that the story is narrated by its protagonist, Darren "Buck" Vender. He is unabashedly narcissistic and fancies himself as some sort of savior, attempting to justify the compromising of his integrity and the alienation of his loved ones by saying he's doing it for Black folk. This narcissism and self-delusion extends itself to how he views and relates to the other characters, all of whom felt more like one-dimensional caricatures than actual people. As a reader, this prevented me from connecting to any of the characters in any meaningful way, which is a shame because I definitely was not feeling Buck. I think we're supposed to believe that Buck's cushy new Manhattan sales job is what "changed" him into this terrible person, and that his actions towards the end were supposed to be redemptive somehow, but I wasn't convinced of this. Buck tries to sell himself to us as a man on a mission to create some sort of substantive social change, but I wasn't buying what he was selling. The overwhelming majority of his actions were driven by self-interest, and to believe that he all of a sudden makes a decidedly "noble" decision in the end didn't track for me. The novel is fast-paced and full of action, maybe a little too much to be honest. The ending felt contrived and unoriginal, and I finished the novel feeling somewhat unfulfilled. A lot of stuff happened but none of it was meaningful. I can see where the author was trying to go with this novel, and while I don't feel like this was a futile attempt, I think the hype and the insistence on this book being categorized as a satire might've hurt this book more than it helped. Maybe with a different set of expectations I would've cringed less and laughed more. Maybe this was a storyline that would've translated better for me on screen rather than through text. View all my reviews
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars I'm not sure what I expected when I first picked up this book. I was intrigued by the cover and drawn to its salacious title, so I prepared myself for some juicy entertainment. Never did I expect to be so emotionally involved; never did I expect to be so touched. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo revolves around the life story of fictional Hollywood starlet Evelyn Hugo as told to her biographer, Monique Grant, who also serves as the book's narrator. Monique, a fledgling magazine writer, has no clue why Evelyn Hugo has chosen her for this job but as their time together progresses, Monique finds that her life has been forever changed. Evelyn is straight-forward, unapologetic, and messy. She doesn't shy away from the fact that she is complicated, nor does she make excuses for any of the choices she makes. As a character, Evelyn is frustratingly endearing, because even in all of her imperfections, even in the face of all the pain she may have caused to others, she insists on standing firmly in her truth. As the title suggests, this book is about love, but not in the way you'd expect. Yes, there are seven husbands, but Evelyn's life doesn't revolve around them. They are merely supporting characters in the larger, grander love story that characterizes Evelyn Hugo's life. Evelyn Hugo lived a life full of passion, and as she gets older, she becomes more adamant about living life on her own terms, no matter what the consequences. Taylor Jenkins Reid really captured my heart with this novel. She tackles the complexities of love, marriage, and sexuality in a delicate yet skillful manner. The storytelling is top-notch; it drew me in from the beginning and only held me tighter as it all unfolded. There is tension, suspense, passion, romance, and heartbreak. By the end, I was a complete puddle of emotions. I may have even teared up once or twice. Definitely a must-read. View all my reviews
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
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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