America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father—despite his hard-won citizenship—Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the light of day.
Wow. What a beautiful historical piece about queer romance. This is my second Malinda Lo book, and I am once again just blown away with the detail to her writing. The amount of times I read a really small piece of description and said “wow I know exactly what the feels like” was incredible. I know this book is highly regarded, but I don’t think Lo’s writing is talked about enough.
She also just really knows how to hit you in gut with love and queerness. I felt so seen with this novel. Lily was so sweet and brave—I wish I could be brave like her. I wish we could’ve seen a little more of Kath and her backstory, but that was my only complaint.
The historical 50s San Francisco vibe was everything, and I loved the pages she included on queerness and Chinese Americans in the 50s at the end of the story. I honestly just think Malinda Lo is brilliant, and I can’t wait to read more of her work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
If you’ve read this one, let me know what you thought!
Happy July! I don’t particularly feel like celebrating my country this year (or any year for that matter, but especially this year), so I won’t be doing anything this weekend except for relaxing by the pool with a book.
I had a pretty solid reading month in June. I read six books, but none of them were really a solid 5 stars except for my rereads.
I don’t think there will ever be a month where emotional isn’t my most read mood. No surprises there. I don’t often see lighthearted in my moods. When I think of lighthearted, I think “little substance” which I don’t go for in books. But I guess it makes sense in the context of my reading this month.
This one was surprising. I really don’t go for contemporary often, and middle grade even less. I know where they show up in my reading, but seeing them in a chart like this outdoing romance and fantasy, it’s jarring. It makes me want to keep stepping outside my usual genres. I really enjoyed the two contemporaries I read this month, so maybe I’ll keep it going.
The two contemporaries I read happened to be my favorites–Girl, Woman, Other and The Paper Palace (review coming for the former). They just had a lot of substance. Of course I loved rereading the Percy Jackson books, but I’m not going to consider those for favorites since it wouldn’t really be a competition.
In all, I don’t feel great about this reading month. I read some good books, but I didn’t get to the ones I really wanted to. I barely did any Pride reading which I try not to feel bad about. I’m a mood reader, and I’m queer myself. I don’t need a month as an excuse to read queer books. It still feels like I have something to prove, especially when I’m essentially reading for an audience. This is more a me issue, and I’m working on making sure my reading choices are for me only.
That being said, I am getting into some amazing Pride reads already in July that I can’t wait to talk about!
Growing up the daughter of notorious treasure hunter and absentee father Duke Wilder left Lily without much patience for the profession… or much money in the bank. But Lily is nothing if not resourceful, and now uses Duke’s coveted hand-drawn maps to guide tourists on fake treasure hunts through the red rock canyons of Utah. It pays the bills but doesn’t leave enough to fulfill her dream of buying back the beloved ranch her father sold years ago, and definitely not enough to deal with the sight of the man she once loved walking back into her life with a motley crew of friends ready to hit the trails. Frankly, Lily would like to take him out into the wilderness—and leave him there.
Leo Grady knew mirages were a thing in the desert, but they’d barely left civilization when the silhouette of his greatest regret comes into focus in the flickering light of the campfire. Ready to leave the past behind him, Leo wants nothing more than to reconnect with his first and only love. Unfortunately, Lily Wilder is all business, drawing a clear line in the sand: it’s never going to happen.
But when the trip goes horribly and hilariously wrong, the group wonders if maybe the legend of the hidden treasure wasn’t a gimmick after all. There’s a chance to right the wrongs—of Duke’s past and their own—but only if Leo and Lily can confront their history and work together. Alone under the stars in the isolated and dangerous mazes of the Canyonlands, Leo and Lily must decide whether they’ll risk their lives and hearts on the adventure of a lifetime. [From Goodreads]
Christina Lauren’s books so far have been very hit or miss for me. I absolutely adored The Soulmate Equation and Love and Other Words, but The Unhoneymooners and The Honey-Don’t List really did not hook me at all. That being said, I went into this one with a relatively open mind, but I didn’t expect anything other than the normal romance arc.
This was one of the wildest (no pun intended) romances I’ve read to date. I was very confused about the inclusion of alt-right incel Terry… like were Christina Lauren trying to inject a statement about our political climate into this romance? But no, clearly this horrible character I could not stand played a bigger part of this narrative.
I won’t lie, it was extremely over the top. I couldn’t believe the treasure hunt story that ensued. But it was also very fun. And the imagery Christina Lauren were able to create of the characters riding through Utah almost made me cry. I’ve never been, but this book made me feel like I have. I think that descriptive writing alone sealed the deal for me on this one.
Lily and Leo’s story was also very sweet, and obviously the chemistry was amazingly developed. I wish we had seen more of them, though. I think the treasure hunting parts of the story overshadowed the romance just a bit.
The treasure hunting and the chaos that ensues because of it was almost just a bit too unbelievable, too. All in all, though, it was a fun adventure romance. If you’re looking for a romance with a spin on it, this one is definitely for you.
Feeling good about my reading this week, so let’s get into it!
Currently reading: I started Girl, Woman, Other on Monday. I was already feeling like I wanted to read something for Pride Month, and on top of that, it was also Juneteenth. So, better way to celebrate than by reading black authors and about black queerness. I’m also about to finish Sea of Monsters already. These audiobooks are going quick which is great cause I eventually want to listen to all of Riordan’s other series, spinoffs and otherwise.
Recently finished: The last book I finished was Something Wilder. I still need to write my review for this one, but it was definitely different than I was expecting! I really enjoyed it overall, though.
Reading next: Ok, it’s actually embarrassing how many times Scorpica and Last Night at the Telegraph Club have been in a WWW Wednesday post. I need to read these just so I can stop feeling shame every time I write one of these. Pride Month is ending soon, and I need to get to these, I just need to. And obviously, I will be picking up The Titan’s Curse as soon as I finish Sea of Monsters and it becomes available from the library.
I saw Michaela do this tag, and almost couldn’t believe we’re halfway through the year. That can’t be right, can it? Apparently, it can. I’m looking forward to looking at my reading so far this year, so here we go!
BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2022?
This decision was tough. I read a lot of amazing romances (The Love Hypothesis, The Roughest Draft), but this one was just so epic and all around great. This is one I recommend to many different people when they ask for recent release recommendations.
BEST SEQUEL YOU HAVE READ SO FAR IN 2022?
I was really torn between this one and Our Violent Ends, but I remember feeling so hyped up when I finished this one. OVE was so good, but the cliffhanger in this one was absolutely insane. I’m so, so excited to continue on with this series in 2022.
NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET BUT WANT TO?
I’ve mentioned this book several times on my blog so far and STILL haven’t gotten to it. It looks incredible, so maybe June will be the month for it.
MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE OF THE SECOND HALF OF 2022?
No thoughts, just Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood. If you know, you know.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF 2022?
It’s really hard for a romance to miss the mark with me, and everything about Anatomy just seemed perfect for my tastes. Romance and grave-digging? Automatic yes. This one wasn’t the worst book I read this year by far, but it was definitely the biggest disappointment for my expectations.
BIGGEST SURPRISE OF 2022?
The plot for this book was so weird, and I really wasn’t into it at first. It turned out to be a really, really sweet story that I still think about quite a bit.
FAVORITE NEW AUTHOR OF 2022 (DEBUT OR NEW TO YOU)?
Women in STEM and romance. Again, if you know you know.
The depiction of addiction in this novel is so heartbreaking. Especially if you’ve personally dealt with addiction in the family like I have, Matty’s struggle is so hard to read. I think I was tearing up within the first 5 pages.
BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY?
This book was so magical, and while the contents weren’t all that happy, the vibes were so beautiful with this one I felt happy finishing it!
FAVORITE BOOK TO MOVIE ADAPTATION YOU’VE SEEN SO FAR THIS YEAR?
I haven’t finished watching yet (I’m trying to stretch it out for as long as possible), but the adaptation is amazing so far. They really nailed the Massachusetts Summer vibe which is very nostalgic for me.
FAVORITE REVIEW YOU’VE WRITTEN THIS YEAR?
It’s easier to write about books you absolutely loved, so it makes sense that my favorite writing was in the review for Book Lovers. This is one I feel that I was really able to capture my feelings well, and it seemed like others agreed when I posted this one.
MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU BOUGHT OR RECIEVED SO FAR THIS YEAR?
I haven’t read this one yet, but it was absolutely 90% a cover buy. I mean, just look at it. Need I say more?
WHAT BOOKS DO YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR?
I have way too many books that I would love to read this year, but I try not to make myself feel guilty about not reading books (unless they’re ARCs). So, I’m just picking this one ARC I’m so excited to read–and still don’t know how I was approved for it.
How are you feeling about your reading so far this year?
Jada Townsend-Matthews is the most reviled woman in America after turning down a proposal on a reality dating show. When she comes home to lick her wounds, Jada finds herself working at San Diego’s newest cupcake bakery, Sugar Blitz, alongside the uptight owner and professional football player Donovan Dell.
When a reporter mistakenly believes Jada and Donovan are an item, they realize they can use the misunderstanding to their advantage to help the struggling bakery and rehabilitate Jada’s image. Faking a relationship should be simple, but sometimes love is the most unexpected ingredient.
I was soooo looking forward to a fun new fake dating story when I was given this eARC. Baking and fake dating are quite literally the perfect combo. So I was very optimistic going into this one and even as the story started. I liked how Jada and Donovan were originally introduced with their own respective stories.
Unfortunately, the book quickly went downhill for me. The story just felt too focused on sticking to the fake dating plot without really delving into the characters’ actual relationship. It almost felt like things were just happening to Jada and Donovan because “this is how the romance arc is supposed to go”.
I felt no connection between the two. Really disappointing because this story could’ve been the perfect amount of cute and spice.
In the end, it just felt really underdeveloped to the point I almost DNF’d at 60%. Even the side characters felt pushed to the side.
I feel like this story had a lot of potential, though, especially at the outset. I wouldn’t completely rule out reading something else by this author, but this one was just a disappointment.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Another beautiful Wednesday in June! Halfway through the month and it’s one of my best friends birthdays! So I’ll be celebrating that this week as well as trying to read more.
Currently reading: I just got Something Wilder on my Kindle from the library after a good few weeks wait. I got about 2% in last night before I passed out in bed. Not much to say on this front. For once, I’m only reading one book at a time. That will definitely change later, but as of right now, that’s it!
Recently finished: I finished The Paper Palace, Fake It Till You Bake It (review copy), and The Lightning Thief all within the past couple days. Reviews to come still for the first two! I loved Paper Palace but was pretty disappointed with FITYBI. Percy Jackson will always be amazing.
Reading next: I have no reading plans aside from continuing with the Percy Jackson series! That means Sea of Monsters is up next (as soon as it comes off hold from the library). I have a physical copy, but I want to continue with the audiobooks which I really enjoyed the first of. I’ll probably start a physical book as well soon, but no clue what that will be.
What are you reading today? Comment or link your WWWs below!
Happy June everyone! I hit a low point in the middle of May. After reading several books to start the month, I kinda dropped off until the last week. Several personal things were hindering my mental health which meant very little reading. I also was traveling quite a bit which contributed to the dip.
That being said, I still managed to read 7 books! Way better than I did in April. I’m taking a four hour train ride tomorrow, so I’m hoping to start June off strong as well.
Surprisingly, Young Adult was my most read genre. This is surprising just because I haven’t been super into YA for the past few years. I’ve definitely been getting into some of the popular YA books though recently, and I am definitely not mad about it.
I’m not feeling too discouraged about this month, but I definitely want to try to do better in June. I’m taking a beach vacation, and I’m hoping the change in scenery will push me to read a bit more.
Wow, not having a set work schedule is really getting to me! I had noooo idea it was Wednesday until I saw everyone posting their WWWs lol. I’m leaving for New York tomorrow, so it’s good I’ll get this in before leaving.
Currently reading: I’m about halfway through the audiobook of The Lightning Thief. It’s just as fun as I remember it to be, and it’s going very quickly, so I expect to finish it soon and be on to the next one! I’m also reading an arc of Fake It Till You Bake It. I’m a little wary of this one just because of the reviews. I’m not too far in, but it seems like a standard, run-of-the-mill romance so far to me–nothing to scoff at. We will see.
Recently finished: I read the ending of The Hawthorne Legacy while at a 3-hour hair appointment the other day. It took a little pushing to finish, just because it is a plot-heavy book. Definitely worth it, though.
Reading next: I read one page of The Witch’s Heart which I don’t technically consider started, so I’m hoping to really get into that one this next week. I’m also really feeling like reading Last Night at the Telegraph Club, especially for Pride Month, so that one is definitely coming on vacation with me.
Woooo, Tuesday! This week’s Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl) topic is exciting because I immediately thought of several characters that would fit. Bookish characters! Authors love to write about people who love books because, well, write what you know, right??
This is the book that immediately jumped out to me. It is my favorite book of all time, and Daniel is just so sweet in it, too. The whole plot centers around Daniel’s quest to find more info about a mysterious book. So glad I could finally include this one on my blog!
Liesel Meminger
from The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This one has also been a favorite for so long, and if you’ve read the book, you know Liesel deserves a spot on any bookish character list.
People often forget how big of a bookworm Bella is, probably because the movie really glosses over it. Fact is, Bella is a book freak and it is her hobby, for everyone who says she has no life. I will defend her to my death.
This is totally a nostalgia pick. Maybe this is because I love Alden Ehrenreich in the movie, but I always thought Ethan was such a cutie (even if his fav is Bukowski🤢)
This book had me sobbing. Elliot is so sweet to Macy, and they literally bonded over reading books and giving each other words they learned from reading. I shouldn’t have to say anything else about this one.
So much to say about this book, and all the characters are incredible. Merritt is the one who writes the book and catalyst for the story, though, so she is the one being showcased here!
Again, Emily Henry is the queen of bookish romance. Nora and Charlie are perfect and I will not take any criticism at this time.
I definitely thought it would be easier to find books I’ve read with bookish characters! I think there are probably more, but I just don’t remember them all because some will only briefly mention a love of books. I tried to pick ones where reading was essential to the story or the character.
Louise Reads 