Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban
2 out of 5 stars Thank you, NetGalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Jade is ready to set sail on Campus on Board, a luxurious semester abroad on a cruise ship. She is ready for the escape- from her mom and their tiny house, and from her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend, who got together and ghosted Jane. Unfortunately Jade’s escape is going to be a bit difficult, as the new happy couple are also on board. While Jade first tries to ignore them, she soon finds herself obsessed. Why did the two people she loved the most betray her? Did she do something wrong? Just when the tension is at its highest, a shocking murder casts suspicion on Jade. Will she be able to clear her name before she becomes the next victim? Okay. I have liked all of Diana Urban’s books in the past. The twists might not always be shocking, but they were fun. This one? I may have been a little surprised, but I just didn’t particularly care. While I sympathized with Jade at first, I quickly became tired of her. She was supposed to be sympathetic and empathetic, but she was mostly annoying. The same goes for the side characters. So when they started being killed off, it just didn’t have the right effect. There were also a couple points where I was convinced that Jade might be the dumbest protagonist I’ve ever read. Usually books involving people trapped in isolated settings while being killed off one by one are my jam, but this one just missed the mark for me.
0 Comments
Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler
4 out of 5 stars Natalya has 24 hours to make a decision that will change her summer, and possibly her life. She could stay in NYC with her father, her friends, and finally work up the courage to talk to the cute girl she’s had a crush on for months (who she calls The Redhead). Or she could go to LA to stay with her estranged mom, maybe fix their relationship, and try new things, including working an internship at her mom’s company, alongside her grumpy but handsome co-intern. So, which will she choose? I thought this book was a lot of fun! We get to see both decisions play out in alternating chapters: Nat goes to LA to be with her mom and falls for Adam, while Tal stays in NYC and falls for Elly. It was so interesting to see both of these stories play out and the similarities/differences in Natalya’s growth. In some cases, the same event or conversation would happen in both stories, but the circumstances that led to it were different. I love a good bi love story, and this one was just unique. Instead of there being a love triangle, both romances play out individually. And regardless of who Natalya is dating, she is a proud bi individual. I also feel like I learned a lot about Jewish culture. I know I’ve read books featuring Jewish characters before, but I really liked that this one went further into detail about holidays and traditions outside of Hanukkah. I won’t spoil the ending, but I also really loved it! I think it was pretty perfect for the book. Overall, this was just a really fun, interesting, and happy queer book! |
Details
AuthorI'm HaileyAnne! I'm a queer librarian who loves books and kpop. Archives
August 2023
Categories |