Reviews – Page 2 – Enna Mari

My favourite Books of 2021, part four. Excuse me while I ugly cry by Joya Goffney.

EXCUSE ME WHILE I UGLY CRY BY JOYA GOFFNEY

Excuse me while I ugly cry is a contemporary romance focusing on black main characters. A girl named Quinn Jackson is obsessed with lists and when her diary goes missing, she must join forces with Carter, who was last seen with her journal. This novel follows the journey of a budding romance and fierce friendships. It was an easy one sitting read written in first person from Quinn’s perspective with fun chapter names, great character development and a loveable storyline which might even make you laugh. I respected the author for tackling heavy themes without making it the focus of the story, this created a balance of light-hearted and intense moments. The chapter names were incredibly fun, it wasn’t just one-word names, they were full sentences, and it just added another lovely touch to the book. I also liked seeing the mild “enemies to lovers” aspect in this contemporary romance even if it wasn’t prominent for long. Overall, a charming novel.

Trigger warning: racism, trauma, death.

My favourite Books of 2021, part three. The girl from the well by Rin Chupeco.

THE GIRL FROM THE WELL BY RIN CHUPECO

The girl from the well is paranormal horror story and retelling of a classic Japanese ghost story called Okiku. This novel spins this classic story into an even darker one and it is written is the perspective of the ghost which is something that is not often done. It is exquisitely written in an almost poet way. The chapter names aren’t just numbers, they are names, words and short sentences that foreshadow what’s about to happen. The book is quite graphic and covers multiple sensitive topics. I really enjoyed this novel from the dark storyline to the uniqueness of the way the novel is written, the author wrote certain sections of the book by skipping lines, angling words, etc, to really emphasise a point. It was delightful to see a ghost story I heard when I was younger made into something completely different and I personally have seen barely any Japanese retellings that isn’t fantasy so it’s good to see. Overall, this novel was wonderful in every form and even might have frightened me a little while reading it!

Trigger warning: death, murder, strangulation, injury, graphic scenes [gore], possession, sacrifice, kidnapping, trauma, blood, etc. There may be more so please procced with caution.

My favourite Books of 2021, part two. Emma in the night by Wendy Walker.

EMMA IN THE NIGHT BY WENDY WALKER.

Emma in the night is a psychological thriller about two sisters who disappear. Cass, the fifteen-year-old, the younger sister returns without Emma who is two years older, but her story doesn’t really align. Dr Abigail Winter is a forensic Psychologist on Cass’s case, she investigates Cass’s family and uncovers the truth about her dysfunctional family. This novel is written in two points of views allowing to see both side of the story, it is written well, medium paced and the timeline of the novel is set within seven days with multiple flashbacks that are easy to understand. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and at the time when I read it, I wasn’t able to do a full book review unfortunately due to school exams, etc. This novel focused on narcissistic personality disorder, and it was interesting to see the trauma of Cass as well as Dr Abby’s. There were many unexpected plot points especially at near the end of the book and it truly shows how dysfunctional Cass’s family. I would take caution since this novel covers multiple sensitive topics. Overall, I delighted in this novel and will definitely read more of Wendy Walker’s books in the future.

Trigger warning: Narcissistic personality disorder, kidnapping, sexual assault, sexual harassment, rape, parental neglect, trauma, death, injury, etc. There may be more, please proceed with causation.

My favourite books of 2021, part one. Girls with sharp sticks by Suzanne Young.

GIRLS WITH SHARP STICKS BY SUZANNE YOUNG.

Girls with sharp sticks explores the themes of sexism and misogyny. Throughout the entire trilogy these themes are prominent. It reflects and exaggerates the issues in our society. This trilogy is all about taking back power in a world where girls are seen as nothing but objects and pretty flowers. Their whole purpose is to serve as wives, mothers and caretakers to a man and to attend to his command. They are taught at a school called, “Innovations Academy” by mainly male teachers who pretend to have the best interest of the girls. There was an element of medical procedures that was extremely unexpected, which I personally enjoyed but worn other to be wary. It is definitely a painful read since many of the comments and instances still happen today. It is plot driven with unexpected plot twists at the end of each book. It makes you want to fight for freedom and against the patriarchy.

A trigger warning for the entire trilogy: sexism, misogyny, medical procedures [lobotomy], sexual assault, sexual harassment, racism, graphic scenes [gore], murder, strangulation, poison, suicide.

The falling in love montage by Ciara Smyth

Trigger warning: dementia, trauma.

Age rating: 13+

Overall rating: 5 out of 5.

Genres: contemporary, romance (Sapphic).

A spoiler free summary
Saoirse wanted to do a couple simply things for the coming long summer holidays: go to parties, watch movies and kiss her troubles away with other girls. Saoirse feels like she deserves a break after dealing with the pain of her mother’s dementia and slowly getting over her ex, Hannah.
Here comes Ruby, the most beautiful girl Saoirse has ever seen, but Saoirse is not ready to commit to another relationship. So Ruby, the romcom fan and optimist challenges Saoirse to try a summer romance, just like in the movies. But what could go wrong with a falling in love montage with an ending date?

Review
This was such a sweet sapphic romance to read. I liked the realness of it with its darker themes of the trauma of the main character, Saoirse. The novel was easy to dive into the world and it was written in first person of Saoirse which allows for the reader to really feel the feelings of what the main character is going through. There were points throughout the book where I wanted to shout at Saoirse to do something or communicate [yes, there is miscommunication but, in a way, where it makes sense, is done well and it’s not cringey]. The author added other elements such as illness, it’s nice to see the diversity in that way too. I personally cannot say if it’s an accurate depiction, but it is not the main focus of the story. The parents of Saoirse are quite involved in the plot of the story, which is a nice touch. I really enjoyed the relationships, especially Oliver and Saoirse frenemy type. I loved the aspect of the big movie moments Ruby and Saoirse had to tick off their list, as another plus the author refenced many real movies [many I didn’t get since I’m not a movie watcher], but I’m sure if you like movies, particularly romcoms it will make the book just a tad better and the author added a large list of movies called, “Saoirse and Ruby’s Rom-Com watchlist.” There was great character development, obviously Saoirse as well as other side characters. There is one small side character named Barbara or Barb and she is such a loveable character I honestly wished she was more involved in the novel. The writing was easy to understand but had a lot of depth and overall, I really enjoyed this book.

Quotes
“As a great philosopher once said: shake it off.”
“Oh wisht. You think I could work in the business of love this long and not get some of that gaydar? I’ve known some brides in my day who shouldn’t have been marrying grooms, that’s for sure. You still get the odd one here and there who doesn’t know it yet, poor dears. I try and give them a hint, you know subtle, would you not like a nice pantsuit, dear. That sort of thing.”
“Whether that relationship lasts a week or fifty years is not what makes it special.”

Recommendation
If you want a sapphic read with big movie moments this book is for you. This novel is light-hearted and heavy at the same time, filled moments that will make you want to shout and laugh.

Pros: I love when authors add the reader into the acknowledgments, it makes the novel special. This was done in this book. There was sapphic rep and it wasn’t set in the US, nothing against the US but it’s nice to see a different location.
Cons: Not too many I can think of in the moment, apart from a little more diversity in the race department [if there was it wasn’t clear], but I’m not sure if it’s a valid complaint/con, since there is diversity in other categories.

I know you did it by Sue Wallman

I know you did it by Sue Wallman.

Trigger warning: murder, mentions of a death of a young child.

Age rating: 13+

Overall rating: 4.2 out of 5

Gernes: Contemporary, mystery, thriller.

A spoiler free summary
On Ruby Marshall’s first day of school, she gets a written message on her locker: I KNOW YOU DID IT.
Now she’s petrified someone knows about the death of young girl she caused many years ago and the incident she ran away from is following her.
When students start dying Ruby might be framed as the killer or she might be next.
A story that follows a high school student exploring the struggles of moving schools and even a murderer on the loose.

Review
The beginning of the novel was a little slow paced and felt dragged on. The main mystery plot of the story started to roll halfway through the novel. But the second half of the book was quite enjoyable. The characters involved were easy to decipher and it was clear what their personality traits and their role in the plot was. During the second half of the novel there were several unexpected plot points thrown in [they were small plot points but added flair to the story], especially in the last couple chapters. A number of plot points were predictable, but I would say there was a wonderful balance of predicable and unpredictable. The writing in the book wasn’t amazing, it was very simple and would be easy to understand for a younger audience. I liked how the author incorporated music into the book without making it the central plotline. The relationships between some of the characters were quite stereotypical but fortunately it was well done. The entire novel was written in first person from the perspective of Ruby Marshall. The adults were very present in the story which is quite unusual so that was nice. Overall, I enjoyed the book and liked many of the characters such as Georgia, Euan and Mara.

Quotes
“I went to bed, feeling as if our friendship was evaporating slowly, like the reed diffuser Mum was given last Christmas which started out strong, but after a few months nothing but a faint smell and dry sticks in an empty bottle.

Recommendation
If you want a book with easy-to-understand language this would be a good book. Although murder is the main plotline there’s a sprinkle of a sweet romance.

Pros: Loved the dedication at the beginning of the book which was: “For every student who missed their school library during the pandemic.”
Cons: There was no diversity at all, if there was it wasn’t clear to me.

Shine your icy crown by Amanda Lovelace

Trigger warning: provided by the author!

Age rating: 14+

Overall rating: 5 out of 5.

Gernes: Poetry

A spoiler free summary
Shine your icy crown is a collection of poems written by Amanda Lovelace. She explores many sensitive themes without being too overwhelming. It is the story of a girl who loves fairy tales but can’t understand why she needs a prince. It is written in a cryptic way and can apply to anyone. This empowering poetry collection is the second instalment of “You are your own fairy tale.”

Review
I love Amanda Lovelace’s books. I really enjoy their poetry. I think it was important that she provided to a trigger warning since their poems explores sensitive topics. I’m not going to lie; I felt a little emotional when reading their poems. These poems are empowering and touching, you tell the author has been through many of the experiences they have written about. I appreciated the style of her poetry, it’s less structed then traditional poetry, it’s looser. Their poems aren’t as cryptic as many of the old poets, sometimes you really must think about what the poet is trying to communicate with you but with Amanda’s poetry it is very straight forward. I knew I was going to enjoy this book because I have read some of their other works and will continue the two books of theirs, I haven’t read yet and of course more when she releases them.

Quotes/poems
“she always looked up to
strong women protagonist
that is, until the day
she finally realized that
she is the strong women protagonist.
determined is she
to weave an even better tale.
-taking the pen back.”

“no,
hurting herself
is not something she
does for the attention.
some days,
it’s the only thing
that tethers her
to the earth.
-she feels like she might float away any day now.”

“her parents screamed at her
more than they ever
told her they loved her.
-disappointment”

“i deserve to have good things
even if i have not always
done good things.
-perfection is a lie; flaws are real.”

“no more fake friends.
no more following the crowd.
no more hiding my feelings.
no more pretending.
-authenticity only.”

Recommendation
If you are looking for a contemporary poetry, discussing themes of self-doubt, empowerment, loving oneself, recognizing your struggles, sexism, mental illness, etc. this is perfect for you. The book itself is so aesthetically pleasing with beautiful images and a simplistic cover design. I would recommend all of Amanda Lovelace’s poetry books.

Pros: The book is gorgeous with pretty images. Just the whole book it the aesthetic. I love when authors write a note to the reader, it makes it more personal.
Cons: I don’t have any complaints or anything really.

Excuse me while I ugly cry by Joya Goffney

Excuse we while I ugly cry by Joya Goffney

Trigger warning: Racism, trauma.

Age rating: 13+

Overall rating: 5 out of 5.

Gernes:Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary.

A spoiler free summary
Quinn Jackson is obsessed with her journal; it is her whole foundation of who she is and is a large part of her life. She is a notorious list maker; she makes a list from “The things I’ll never admit out loud” to “If I could kiss anyone” and that’s what keeps her sane, so she starts to fall apart when she loses her Journal, or did it go missing?
An anonymous Instagram account posts a picture of one of her lists and blackmails her to complete that list or else more of her lists will go public. Now Quinn is about to face the fact a lot of truth is going to come out and the entire school is going to know about. Quinn doesn’t know who to trust. Out of desperation she teams up with the last person who had her journal, Carter Bennett. Together they race against the clock to face some of Quinn’s greatest fears, and she learns to face the world with courage, and she might even find love through it all…

Review
Excuse me while I ugly cry, was such a fun romcom to read. I read this in one sitting and it had me smiling almost the entire time. I loved how the author explored the serious theme of racism, yet it didn’t make the book too heavy. I think it is wonderful that it shines light on racism in schools today and the experience of many black people. All the character were so fun, Quinn, Carter, Olivia, Auden, Imani and so many of the others add a lot to the story line. It was easy to dive into the story almost straight away and the whole storyline was well thought out. I thoroughly enjoyed the character developments, they were so well done and thought out. Even some of character I didn’t expect had character development. It also focuses on the pressure many face in relation to race, school and the societal pressure on BIPOC people. Quinn’s parents are quite present in the novel, which is unfortunately very rare in many YA novels, so I appreciated that aspect to. I loved many of the character’s relationships, it was super cute, and one relationship especially was super badass, it was the perfect friendship. Quinn’s connection to her lists and her journal is something I enjoyed.

Quotes
“It’s okay.” Olivia grabs my hand and squeezes my fingers. “I’ll protect you.”
"I looked at her tiny build, then at the muscular man behind her and somehow, I believe her. I’ve seen her fight on multiple occasions, multiple guys…”
“Look at my nails! Queen did my nails!”
Queen. I smile back and breathe a laugh through my nose.”
“As we climbed down the steps, Livvy hisses, “I said it! Just like the movie.””

Recommendation
If you want a fun quick paced romance with enemies to lovers and Black main characters being blackmailed and great character development this book is for you.

Pros: The chapter had fun names. At the beginning of the book there was a contents page, which is always good because you are able to go back and find certain parts that you especially enjoyed. The paper back I own is beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. The lists provided throughout the book really added to the storyline. It's written by a BIPOC author with BIPOC characters!
Cons: I honestly cannot think of any in this moment.

How we fall apart by Katie Zhao

Trigger warning: Author provides at the beginning of the book! [Feel free to contact me if you want to know more.]

Age rating: 14+

Overall rating: 6 out of 5 [Yes, I gave it a 6 out of 5. I might be biased but I’ve never related to a book so much].

Gernes: Young Adult, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

A spoiler free summary
Jamie Ruan is the queen bee of Sinclair prep. Everyone sees her as rich, happy and the top student at the school. One day she ends up dead.
An anonymous person called the proctor posts on the school’s social media app, claiming that Jamie’s ex-best friends are behind her death.
Akil Patel is top track star at Sinclair prep.
Krystal Choi is known for her killer fashion sense.
Alexander Lin is always focused on his grades.
Nancy Luo is scholarship student absorbed in nothing but being on top of her grades.
So why are they being targeted? What secrets are being threatened to be revealed? Why are they so desperate to hide their secrets? Maybe they aren’t so perfect after all…

Review
How do I begin, I loved this book! Everything was done so well in this book, and I have never felt so seen. This might be the closest I’ve ever come to crying because it was so relatable. This book explores the pressure immigrants [not limited to] face within themselves, against school and the high expectations of others around them especially their parents. It touches and shows the effect how this mentality can really affect mental health of many young people and it recognizes this issue. You can tell the author has experienced this or gone through something similar. The whole plot line was so unpredictable, and it kept me guessing what could possibly happen next. It was lovely to see the relationship of all the character no matter if it was good or bad. I loved the fact Nancy, Krystal, Akil and Alexander seemed perfect on the outside [before everything was revealed] to everyone around them but, they had plenty of imperfections. It was wonderful to see the four friends’ relationship and what kept them close together even after the Incident [if you know you know 😉]. Each of the core four characters were so different and unique in their own, yet a lot of it was realistic to teens in this generation [in my experience, apart from the murder plotline obviously]. The whole book was in one point of view, Nancy Luo, and had multiple flashbacks scattered throughout the book, but those flashbacks were not confusing at all. They really added more understanding to the entire storyline. This book had everything I wanted, an intriguing cast, unpredictable storyline and mostly the representation!
This was one of those books that when you finish it you just need it to settle in, I couldn’t read a book for at least four days [if you know the feeling you know]. I’m very excited for Katie Zhao’s next upcoming YA book, The lies we tell in 2022 and her other books in the future. 😊

Quotes
“I was always lying. Pretending to be someone I wasn’t in order to fit in. Pretending was so much easier than being who I really was.”
“Nobody would want to know the gritty unpleasant details about what it took - what it really took – to get there.”
“That was what he said, but I had the sneaking suspicion that he was barely holding it together. I could see the same cracks forming in his image. I saw those same cracks every time I glanced in the mirror.”
“I shouldn’t let anyone else get too close. The only person I could depend on was myself.”
“No lonelier feeling in the world than having people stare at you all the time, but nobody truly seeing you.”
“I heard myself nicknamed every variation of the word ‘smart’.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard. The permission I’d waited for, my whole life.”

Recommendation
If you liked One of us is lying by Karen M. McManus and the Don’t get mad duology by Gretchen McNeil but with a twist and with Asian representation, you’ll love How we fall apart.
It may also open your eyes to how some immigrant children\families feel in places such as America, the UK and Australia. Or you may find this book to be a comfort and recognition of your existence.

Pros: Loved the names of the chapters, confession one, etc. I also enjoyed the fact there were thoughts from anonymous students from the app as the beginning of each chapter. The representation was there! Will definitely become one of my favourites and a comfort book for sure.
Cons: The only one I can think of is I wish it was longer, but I have feeling there might be a sequel or at least I hope so, so it’s not a real complaint. So, I have none.

To kill a kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Trigger warnings: Gruesome scenes.

Age rating: 13+

Overall rating: 4.5 out of five.

Gernes: Young Adult, Retelling, Fantasy.

A spoiler free summary
Princess Lira is siren royalty and the feared Prince’s Bane, until Lira is cursed by the callous Sea Queen, and she may have to remain human unless she can deliver the heart of the infamous siren killer without her song.
Prince Elian is the captain of the deadliest crew of siren hunters and secondly, the heir to the most powerful kingdom. When he rescues a drowning woman, she makes promises to end sirenkind forever, but how can he trust this mysterious woman from the ocean….

Review
Retellings can often go wrong if it’s not well executed, but this was certainly well done. Not only is it a retelling of the little mermaid but it adds elements of other stories such as King Midas and the Greek Goddess of sea monsters, Keto. I do appreciate the two point of views and the story would be so different without it. Many of the character are colourful in personality and the book has an array of beautiful scenery. The point of views were easy to follow. The semi-main characters add the perfect flair to the storyline. I love Madrid and Kye’s relationship, I like Lira’s whole persona and the flash backs that provides some understanding on why Lira is the way she is. Elian and Lira’s dynamic is a pleasure to read. Kahlia and Lira’s sibling like relationship starts and ends the adventure pulling it all together. Overall, the writing is well written, and the story is easy to dive into this world. I really enjoyed the story and have read it multiple times.

Quotes
“Love is a word we scarcely hear in the ocean. It exists only in my song and on the lips of the princes I’ve killed. And I have never heard it from my mother’s mouth.”
“There is nothing in this world but pain and the rare moments that exist in between.”

Recommendation
A good book to get away from your troubles. The ocean and the lands in between are the perfect combination for exploration. If pirates, sirens, royalty, secrets and adventure appeals to you, then I recommend.

Pros: The first sentence of the book is one of my favourites, its very eye catching, and any mind would immediately want to know what happens next. I also love when the author added a note to the readers so that was wonderful to see. I really enjoyed the little detail of a tentacle whenever it changed to Lira’s point of view.
Cons: The middle section of the book surrounding Lira and Elian’s dynamic is dragged a little and the end almost feels rushed. It would have been nice to see more of their relationship and wished the book was longer or there was a sequel.

Reread Review.