Hello, world!
Since I don't write full reviews for every books I read (at least not yet), I decided that I'm going to do monthly wrap-ups. Generally, I try to do a short Goodreads reviews so I remember what I liked/didn't like about each book. So at the end of each month (or beginning, depending on how well I keep on top of things), I will compile those little reviews and post them here! Here is my July 2021 Wrap-Up 1. Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide 5 out of 5 stars Holy. ****. This. Book. I keep coming back to write more of a review, but I honestly don't know what to say. Just read it. 2. A Quick and Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities by Mady G. 5 out of 5 stars This book is great. It explains identities really well and has adorable illustrations of snails. Bonus points for having an entire chapter dedicated to asexuality! 3. Survive the Night by Riley Sager 4 out of 5 stars Riley Sager is one of my favorite current authors and this book did not disappoint. While there were a couple of twists that I had figured out, there were plenty that caught me off guard, too. It was thrilling, intense, and just really good. 4. My Hero Academia, vol 10 by Kohei Horikoshi 5 out of 5 stars We finally meet All for One and man, is he intense. I'm also starting to hate Bakugo less, so that's progress. 5. Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley 4 out of 5 stars ** spoiler alert ** Okay. So I really liked this book. I liked all of the cultural aspects of it. And I love hockey. BUT SPOILERS: Content Warning: Sexual assault, gun violence, suicide, drug use There REALLY needed to be some content warnings in this book. You can't just throw in suicide or sexual assault without giving a warning. 6. Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler 2 out of 5 stars This was a cute, quick read. I think it's a good portrayal of questioning your sexuality. But I didn't think Larissa was particularly likeable and it was super predictable. 7. My Hero Academia, vol 11 by Kohei Horikoshi 4 out of 5 stars This was a very emotional volume. The end of All Might's fight with One for All and the aftermath had me feeling a lot of feelings. 8. My Hero Academia, vol 12 by Kohei Horikoshi 4 out of 5 stars I loved seeing more of Mei Hatsume! She’s kooky and I love her. It’s also great to see how the characters have grown throughout the series so far. 9. The Backups: A Summer of Stardom by Alex de Campi 4 out of 5 stars This was so cute and fun, but also touched on some great topics. The characters were very real and I LOVED Maggie. 10. Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales 3 out of 5 stars I think this is a really great book that explores bisexuality and biphobia. I really, really liked Darcy's journey in that respect. But I also found her very selfish and annoying. So that's why I'm only giving it 3 stars. 11. Trouble Girls by Julia Lynn Rubin 2 out of 5 stars I understand and appreciate what this book was trying to do. And there were some parts that I really liked. But overall, I just wasn't into it. 12. The [Un]Popular Vote by Jasper Sanchez 3 out of 5 stars There is a lot I liked about this book: the representation, the message. But also I did not find the teens realistic. I try not to ever underestimate the intelligence of teens, but I had to look up multiple words in this book. And some of the dialogue just didn't seem real. And do schools really take school elections this seriously? But all that aside, I think it's a great story with a diverse group of characters. 13. The Incredible Nellie Bly: Journalist, Investigator, Feminist, and Philanthropist by Luciana Cimino 4 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this. I'm mad that I don't know more about Nellie Bly, but this graphic novel is a good crash course on her accomplishments. 14. My Hero Academia, vol 13 by Kohei Horikoshi 4 out of 5 stars It was interesting to see the students (UA and other schools) band together for the rest of the licensing exam. We also see more of All for One, who is still creepy, even in custody. 15. My Hero Academia, vol 14 by Kohei Horikoshi 4 out of 5 stars Y’all. I think I’m really starting to not hate Bakugo. He’s still a jerk, but he really gains some sympathy in this volume. I appreciate that, rather than him just being an annoying, mean character. We meet Mirio in this volume and it might be one of my favorite character intro ever. We also meet Sir Nighteye who is wacky, but I can tell he will be fun to read about in the future. 16. Off the Record by Camryn Garrett 5 out of 5 stars Content Warning: Sexual assault, anxiety This book. Wow. It tackles the #MeToo movement in an honest, powerful way. Josie doesn't feel like she has a right to tell these people's stories, but it's just really powerful. She wants to help, but she also feels in over her head. Also, her anxiety is portrayed very well and very realistic. 16. Witch for Hire by Ted Naifeh 1 out of 5 stars This is a longer review, but I don't want to do a separate post for it. *Thank you NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.* This might be the most blunt and negative review I've ever written, but I just did not like this book. Let me break it down: -The format on my tablet was weird and the font was fuzzy and difficult to read (which I know doesn't really matter in terms of this review, but still) -The book is so short, it just didn't feel complete. There was one point where I had to go back to see if I'd missed something. It was rushed and seemed like parts were left out. -Faye was not likeable. She was mean and it was difficult to sympathize. But there weren't any characters that were likeable, so it fit in. -I did not like the way mental illness was treated. It was treated like something shameful. SPOILERS: -This book got almost immediate negative points from me when it had the words "loser kill yourself" written on a cafeteria table. But the fact that it kept using that phrase and actually included an attempt? No. Not okay. Ever.
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AuthorI'm HaileyAnne! I'm a queer librarian who loves books and kpop. Archives
August 2023
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