I want to spotlight a criminally (*haha,* a pun you'll get when you read the synopsis!) underrated book: The Last Best Story by Maggie Lehrman! I first picked up the novel at the library a few years ago, fell in love, and promptly rediscovered my love when I purchased a copy during a pandemic shopping spree. So! Reasons to read, and a bonus movie recommendation! You need to read this book. Cover and synopsis, because obviously you want to know more! Rose Regnero was a star reporter for her high school paper, destined for a career in journalism, when she abruptly quit two months ago, leaving behind her very-nearly-sort-of-boyfriend and editor-in-chief, Grant. Now she is trying to be normal at her senior prom, with a new boy and new interests, and isn’t looking back. Grant was totally blindsided when Rose walked away from the Gazette. After all, they’d dedicated their lives to it for the past four years, had even planned on majoring in journalism together at Northwestern—which is why Grant is determined to entice Rose back. But whether it’s really to the paper or to him he’s not entirely sure. When an alarm is set off at prom and the school goes on lockdown, Grant discovers that someone is loose in the building with a gun. But Rose, caught outside of the gym, knows differently. Will her instincts for a good story win out against her resolve to leave Grant and the paper behind? This is going to sound incredibly rude, but I'm actually not sure you'll like this book. I'm one of 50 other Goodreads reviewers who rated it 5 stars, one of 161 people who gave it 4 or 5 stars. A majority (169 people) rated it 3 stars. HOWEVER. A lot of you hold my opinion in high esteem (seriously. A flatteringly large amount of people) and I'm asking you to give it a chance. There's so much to like.
**Disclaimer: that bookshop link is an affiliate link, which means I'll earn a commission from your purchase. More info in my sidebar! And if you haven't seen His Girl Friday, you simply must! It's such a hilarious film that'll definitely cheer you up for an evening. Smart, aged well (as of 12/14/20), not afraid to trust its audience. I've seen it three times in isolation and it never fails to get me laughing.
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Hey all! I've got a Blog Tour post for you with an excerpt of Take it Back by Kia Abdullah! Thank you so much to St. Martin's for including me on this tour--you'll find the synopsis, buy links, and author bio below! Take it Back is an adult courtroom thriller which released December 8th. The Book and its AuthorOne victim. Four accused. Who is telling the truth? Zara Kaleel, one of London's brightest legal minds, shattered the expectations placed on her by her family and forged a brilliant legal career. But her decisions came at a high cost, and now, battling her own demons, she has exchanged her high profile career for a job at a sexual assault center, helping victims who need her the most. Victims like Jodie Wolfe. When Jodie, a sixteen-year-old girl with facial deformities, accuses four boys in her class of an unthinkable crime, the community is torn apart. After all, these four teenage defendants are from hard-working immigrant families and they all have proven alibis. Even Jodie's best friend doesn't believe her. But Zara does—and she is determined to fight for Jodie—to find the truth in the face of public outcry. And as issues of sex, race and social justice collide, the most explosive criminal trial of the year builds to a shocking conclusion. Macmillan Books-A-Million Barnes & Noble Amazon KIA ABDULLAH is an author and travel writer. She has contributed to The Guardian, BBC, Channel 4 News, and The New York Times. Kia currently travels the world as one half of the travel blog Atlas & Boots, which receives over 200,000 views per month. Author Website GoodReads ExcerptTW: Language, Sexual assault, Discussion of sexual assault. Please be advised before reading.
CHAPTER ONE She watched her reflection in the empty glass bottle as the truth crept in with the wine in her veins. It curled around her stomach and squeezed tight, whispering words that paused before they stung, like a paper cut cutting deep: colorless at first and then vibrant with blood. Thank you to Shealea from Caffeine Book Tours for including me on this tour! I love Gothic books and queer lit, so this is right up my alley! The Book and its AuthorUnspeakable contains eighteen Gothic tales with uncanny twists and characters that creep under your skin. Its stories feature sapphic ghosts, terrifying creatures of the sea, and haunted houses concealing their own secrets. Whether you're looking for your non-binary knight in shining armour or a poly family to murder with, Unspeakable showcases the best contemporary Gothic queer short fiction. Even dark tales deserve their time in the sun. Meet the editor, Celine Frohn! MoodboardA little moodboard inspired by Unspeakable! Thank you again to Caffeine Book Tours for including me and Nyx Publishing for sharing an e-ARC. I hope this moodboard tides you over while I gather my thoughts for my review (coming soon!)
So far, I’ve only ever reviewed books on this blog. That changes today! During the pandemic, I wanted to support small businesses and the USPS, as well as indulge myself in some retail therapy. The joy of opening a long-awaited package is, in my opinion, unparalleled by any other earthly feeling. As you may recall, I wrote a post (linked) recommending ten bookish candle companies for you to support. As of now, I have candles from four of those shops, and two outside the list. I have nineteen (19?!?!) candles. Without further ado, my reviews! Shops are in order of my purchase timing, so the newest purchase will be last. I will not be judging based on shipping times or order processing, because COVID-19 has shifted timelines and I don’t want to be unfair to the shops. Rose & AdderTo be upfront, I’ve owned this candle since before my obsession. It came as part of my OwlCrate Call Down the Hawk box, and I’ve been obsessed with it since. It’s my only woodwick candle, and I just love the sound the wick makes while I’m burning it. The scent is earthy and sweet, and I admit to just opening the lid and sniffing the candle even when I don’t want to burn it. Gorgeous labels, and a wide variety of themed collections also appeal to me. My Rose & Adder candle was a one-off, but I’d love to grab something from their Zodiac or Literary collections. That being said, Rose & Adder’s prices are quite prohibitive for me: their 9oz glass jar candles run for $21! Their 5oz metal tins are $12.50. I generally prefer to buy more candles at a time, so I’d have to be seriously treating myself in order to grab anything from this shop. They had a fantastic Black Friday sale with reduced prices, so I definitely took advantage of that and splurged a bit! I want more wood wick candles in my life, so I can’t wait for them to get here. Also, there’s some discoloration that happens with the colored soy wax in my candle—once melted, it cools a more frosted color than the solid candle. Just a small nitpick that it happens with this candle and rarely with my others. Otherwise, it’s a very even burn, though perhaps I would wish the wax be slower to evaporate so I could have a longer burn time. Flick the WickI *love* Flick the Wick. They are my most-owned candle brand—I think I have 6 now, and I ordered a bunch more for Black Friday. The gorgeous labels, reasonable pricing ($8.50 for a 4oz, but they have rep codes!), and perfect scents make them my go-to candle for studying, writing blog posts, or reading. You’ll note in my latest Read With Me video, I lit up a FTW Queen of Terrasen candle. I don’t think I have any issues with these candles. They’ve stayed in perfect condition, generally don’t frost, and have super long burn times proportionate to the size of the jars! We love a long lasting candle. I’d highly recommend adding a couple of these to your collection. A Court of CandlesThe Witcher collection from A Court of Candles isn’t something I regret buying, however… there are some moments where I wish I’d waited longer before hitting that one-click purchase button. They’re the only thing I’ve bought from A Court of Candles, so don’t take this as a stinging indictment of the company, but I’m not enjoying them as much as I’d like. Let’s start with the positives. Really vivid wax colors, pretty labels, and reasonable prices! I can’t get onto their website (it’s closed for restocks), but I don’t recall breaking the bank over these. Now for the grievances. My main objection is the scents—yes, it’s on me for purchasing them, however I do feel like at times, they can be a bit overpowering and I get a small headache whenever I inhale too much of the fumes. They’re also earthier than my traditional floral scents (Geralt’s is straight-up bathwater and Drakkar Noir), which might contribute to my dislike. Heady fragrances are maybe best for larger, more well-ventilated spaces as opposed to my room and office area. Secondly, the wax doesn’t hold up that well at room temperature, even when the candle isn't lit. I’ve noticed a lot of sweating (condensation on the surface) which would be okay if I had left them outside from the mail, or if I lived in a warmer climate, but… it’s December. And I live in Boston. My space is kept at 70*, so I’m not sure what’s up with this. Fire Nation CreationsI bought two Fire Nation Creations candles from their Bookish Ships collection because I was in love with the artwork, and they did not disappoint! Loureid from Serpent & Dove, and Starlington from Ninth House. I actually haven’t burned them yet, so this can’t be a true review. I’ve been putting it off because of how pretty they are! There’s a layer of colorful glitter coating the wax surface, and it’s the most glitter I’ve ever seen included in a candle, so I’m not sure how that’s going to go if I burn them. The scents are so saccharine, definitely more food-related and less floral than most of my others, which is a nice contrast. Updates to come if I ever get the courage to light one. IceyDesignsBack in August, I caved and ordered IceyDesigns’ Star Daughter candle. It’s one of my favorite books of 2020 and seeing merch for it just made my month. This candle is so high quality, y’all, I can’t even begin to tell you. The jar is gorgeous, with a matte paper label and an airtight seal to keep the candle fresh for as long as possible. This is a 9oz candle, one of the biggest ones I own as of writing this review, and I’m very satisfied with its consistency. The melt pool forms easily—I’m pretty sure it’s soy wax like my others, and yet for some reason this candle’s wax evaporates faster than theirs, so I burn it sparingly. If you didn’t know, I’m more interested in preservation and collection than just straight up burning and tossing my candles. My only quibble is price—$18 is a lot for me to spend on one candle, so I’d probably only get Icey candles for books that I really care about. Novelly YoursAhh, Novelly Yours, AKA the first bookish candle company I’d ever heard of and somehow the last one I ever tried! I love the scents and prices—wish there had been some more color/design that went into the labels, but they’re cute regardless. My favorites are from their Shadowhunters candle box, from which I bought overstock. Those have quotes on the back and a bit more design element type things that went into them. Here’s my grievance: burn quality. It takes such a long time to get an even wax pool, and then unless the candle is left to burn for hours on end, the wax still clings to the side of the jar. I don’t like to just burn candles and leave them, because it’s not a recommended practice, so there’s really no way to avoid this. Again, I’m really not sure why this is happening! If any other candle fans out there would like to share tips or stories, I’m always happy to listen. I love these—they’re great for meditation and quiet working—and I want to treat them right! And that’s a wrap! I hope you found this helpful, whether you’re new to the bookish candle scene or a veteran looking to try some new brands. I kind of like this lifestyle blogging thing, maybe I’ll keep at it! Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any of these candles, and how you liked them! I’m always fascinated by the bookish things that people like to collect. Perhaps there’s an enamel pin review post in the blog’s future...
Thank you to Delacorte Press for sharing a copy in exchange for my honest review!
It's good to be Chloe Wynn Berringer. She's headed off to the college of her dreams. She's going to prom with the boy she's had a crush on since middle school. Her best friend always has her back, and her mom, a B-list Hollywood celebrity, may finally be on her way to the B+ list. It's good to be Chloe Wynn Berringer--at least, it was, until the FBI came knocking on her front door, guns at the ready, and her future went up in smoke. Now her mother is under arrest in a massive college admissions bribery scandal. Chloe, too, might be facing charges, and even time behind bars. The public is furious, the press is rabid, and the US attorney is out for blood. As she loses everything she's long taken for granted, Chloe must reckon not only with the truth of what happened, but also with the examination of her own guilt. Why did her parents think the only way for her to succeed was to cheat for her? What did she know, and when did she know it? And perhaps most importantly, what does it mean to be complicit? OOF. Let’s do this. Admission, as you may have gathered, is a novelization of the real-life college admissions scandal, uncovered by FBI Operation Varsity Blues (not really relevant information, but I just think the name is fun). Unusually for recent YA, Admission has more basis in fact than fiction. If you recognize the general synopsis, that’s because it’s basically the same chain of events as followed by Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman. College admissions is such a tough and emotional world for real-life teens, and I was interested in seeing how Buxbaum would approach centering an unlikeable, maybe-even-culpable protagonist in the novel. I was disappointed at best and saddened at worst by the result. Let’s do positives first, though. The dissonance between the now/then timelines did great things for the book’s atmosphere. Seeing how perfect Chloe thinks her life is before the arrests happen is a tonal clash with her family’s bleary-eyed misery in the aftermath. For readers, knowing what’s coming provides a sense of anticipation and a reason to invest in Chloe’s story. Less of a “rooting for” invest and more of a “Get it TOGETHER, girl! Can you not see this shady stuff happening?” kind of invest, though. In the beginning, Buxbaum did well in humanizing the Berringer family. This became less believable as the book went on though, which I’ll get into later. Part of this is construction, but it’s also partly my bias. I had a hard time finding it in me to feel anything for Chloe’s mother especially—it’s difficult to be reading a book where the outward presentation is that the main characters are protagonists, but I view them as antagonists. This brings us neatly to my next point, where the negatives start. I think Admission should have had a different protagonist. Chloe is maybe supposed to be relatable because of her mediocrity—she’s not that smart and doesn’t have any special talents. Readers are supposed to say, “hey, just like me!” or something. This justifies Chloe's whining about the people in her life with genuine talent or ability, like her sister Isla, boyfriend Levi, and best friend Shola. I found this grating, though, and would have much more easily enjoyed a novel from the perspective of Shola, who might have a more interesting perspective on Chloe’s life. She’s Nigerian, part of a minority at their uber-white private school, and her family isn’t wealthy like Chloe’s—no bribery in Shola’s admissions process, just straight-up achievements. I imagine there were a lot of eye rolls in her house at Chloe’s antics (and I’ll be honest, I’m pretty privileged too, but I recall having done the same at the legit otherworldly privilege and wealth-blindness of some people I know). This is all to say, I get what Buxbaum was trying to do here. As a reader, though, all I wanted to do was scream at Chloe’s occasional classism and racism (which she gets called out on). I was just incapable of believing in her innate goodness when she has to consider whether she was complicit in her mother’s crimes. What level of ignorance is okay to excuse? How much can I, as a reader, allow her to shove under the rug before it stops being a character choice and becomes unforgivable? I decided the answer was “some ignorance,” but Chloe exceeded my expectations there. I mean, some of her choices are truly reprehensible. Getting an ADHD diagnosis for accommodations on the SAT… I mean, sure. That’s actually a pretty common practice amongst wealthy families for a whole host of reasons, which I won’t get into here. (I also won’t get into how it makes life for those of us who actually have ADHD that much harder because we’re already seen as lazy and unmotivated without the added concern of whether we’re “faking it” or not). That’s not something fully under Chloe’s control. All she had to do was accept the word of the psychologist as true, and it’s hard not to trust a psychologist. But picking an application photo where she has a deep tan in order to fake an Argentinian background… WHAT?!?! That’s a conscious decision! It would be so easy to just… not do the terrible thing! At that point, it’s pretty hard to feel anything for Chloe given that I thought she had to have understood that her actions were wrong. I bet by now you’re wondering why I’m giving Admissions four stars. In short, it’s because I can appreciate a book that makes me think. I got to use my brain and consider my own worldview while reading, which I’ve been reticent to do during this pandemic. As you may know, I’ve been gravitating towards comfort reads, and I like that Admissions was able to drag me into thinking critically. So there. 4/5 stars for Admissions, even though I disliked large portions of it. You should read it. I’m curious to see what everyone else will think, so please come back and comment once you do! Bit of a short one today, as I'm also publishing my December Cover Love simultaneously. I've finally finished The Missing of Clairedelune, the second book in the Mirror Visitor series, and I'm facing a conundrum. I have the series in paperback, but the third book doesn't come out in that format until next summer! The fourth book is out in French, but doesn't even have a release date in English yet. Should I get the third in hardcover and give up on a matched set? Should I order a French copy of the fourth instead of waiting a year or more for the translation? (I can speak, write, and read in French, for those who don't know me, but it'll be slower than reading in English). So many decisions! I'm totally obsessed with this story, and I really want to know what happens next with Ophelia and Thorn, but I'm also trying to put myself on a book buying ban!
Secondly, I'm super behind on ARC reviews, but I'm getting to them soon! Hoping to retroactively publish a review of Admission by Julie Buxbaum, which released today, so check out my Twitter for the link to that when I post it. |
The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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