- Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Rating: 4 out 5
This is one that was immediately on my TBR after reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and having it be an instant 5 stars. I was fortunate enough to receive this book for Christmas. And while I enjoyed it, it definitely didn’t strike me like Evelyn Hugo did.
Overall, the book was less impactful, but still entertaining. Maybe I’m just tired of the cliche, “rockstar life” stories.
2. Handbook for Martals by Lani Sarem
Rating: 1 out of 5
Jesus Christ.
This book is bad. I mostly wanted to read it, because I did a pretty intensive study in university on the literary market, and this book came up a lot. It’s as bad as everyone says, and people just need to stay away.
Grammar is terrible, and it reads like she wrote it in one sitting nursing a bottle of Diet Pepsi.
Don’t even read this for fun, kids.
3. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Rating: 2 out of 5
Guys, I try and try with Bardugo. But I just can’t anymore.
I had such high hopes for Ninth House, but it honestly just came off as a fan fiction of Beetlejuice. Bardugo tries to be edgy, but ultimately fails, trying too hard to be relatable and get the shock factor out of her reader.
And yes, the trigger warnings of rape and human feces are real, and they are very strange and unnecessary, in my opinion.
Spoiler Alert
Is the main character getting raped by a ghost entirely necessary? Come on.4. The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
Rating: 3 out of 5
I don’t have much to say about this one. I felt it was, overall, a very generic mystery/thriller. It was played very safe. I didn’t hate it, it just wasn’t anything new.
5. Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky
Rating 3 out of 5
I was really looking forward to this one, and the beginning was very promising. But, this book just took me forever to finish. I feel like I’m not that unfamiliar with large books, and this is definitely one, at over 700 pages. While they typically take longer to read on a normal reading schedule, if it’s good, it really shouldn’t take too much longer.
This book took me, like, two months.
By the end, it just got very very odd beyond explanation. Like he was already 500 pages deep and was like “shit, I have to think of something twisty.”
The writing, overall, was very good. The story was just missing some seasoning.
6. Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Olseman
Rating: 5 out of 5
This was the second thing I’ve read by Olseman, and boy does she not disappoint.
You can check out my review of Radio Silence, but spoiler, I freaking loved it. Heartstopper was no exception. While this is a different format (a graphic novel), it definitely doesn’t disappoint.
An amazing LGBTQ friendly story that is basically designed to make you smile. I’m very excited to read more of the series.
Update
So, it sure has been awhile!
Two semesters ago, I got really really swamped with school, as well as this semester. And the transition with everything happening in COVID-19 hasn’t helped.
I can’t promise posting will be a regular thing, as I am finishing up my degree But overall I am fine. Everyone around me, thankfully, is fine.
Right now, I’m sending my best wishes out to all of you guys.
I thank you so much for constant support.
Daniel
What’s been keeping you sane during lockdown?