Accelerated Reader: Volume 12
“If I Had Your Face” by Frances Cha: 4.25 stars
This book seems to have gotten a lot of hype, and it’s clear why. Frances Cha has written a brilliant novel that explores modern Korean womanhood, notably focused on class. Told from the POV of 4 women who live in the same apartment building (some of whom know each other, one of whom does not), the novel touches on K-pop culture, plastic surgery, and the “secret” culture of “room salons” frequented by wealthy businessmen. Some of the women’s plotlines were truly heartbreaking, and there are some great lines throughout the novel. (Bookshop | Kindle)
“The Once and Future Witches” by Alix E. Harrow: 4 stars
An excellent fantasy novel by the author of “The Ten Thousand Doors of January” (my review here). While I preferred the latter, “The Once and Future Witches” is the extraordinary tale of 3 sisters who reunite during the suffragist movement in 1893 New Salem. Together, they reclaim the lost power of witches, and enlist other women in their fight against a tyrannical mayoral candidate who is determined to stamp them out. What I loved about this novel is that it wasn’t just white women involved in the suffragist movement—it was more intersectional and inclusive than I originally imagined. And Harrow does a brilliant job weaving classic fairytales into the novel. (Bookshop | Kindle)
“Don’t Turn Around” by Jessica Barry (via Harper): 4 stars
I really liked Jessica Barry’s “Freefall,” so I was excited to receive her latest from Harper. It didn’t disappoint. Two women (strangers) are driving from Texas to New Mexico for an unknown reason. (Not to toot my own horn, but I figured out the reason pretty quickly.) Through flashbacks and multiple POVs we learn more about each woman and who may be out to get them as they make the overnight drive. Definitely had some great twists and turns, and while the ending was a bit abrupt, I highly enjoyed this one. (Bookshop | Kindle)
“The Flipside of Perfect” by Liz Reinhardt (via Netgalley): 3.5 stars
A YA novel from the POV of AJ—a responsible high schooler and the oldest of 3 girls—and Della, a carefree wild child who’s the youngest of 3. Plot twist: they’re the same person. Some ungodly custody arrangement has her spending the school year in Michigan with her mom, stepdad, and two half-sisters; and the summer in Florida with her dad and two older half-siblings. While this novel was a bit too long (some parts really dragged on), it was an interesting look at sibling and family dynamics and how adaptable kids can be when they have to be (but why make life harder on them). (Bookshop | Kindle)
“We Can Only Save Ourselves” by Alison Wisdom (via Harper Perennial): 3 stars
What a weird one. Alice Lange is supposed to be the golden girl in her community, but when she and some friends break into their high school and discover she didn’t win Homecoming Queen, Alice sets the senior class homecoming float on fire and then takes off two days later with a mysterious man she had briefly met previously. Of course, said man (Wesley) lives with a harem of women (many of whom are also teenagers) and Alice has to adjust to the new dynamics and surroundings. Interspersed throughout the book are chapters in first person plural that one presumes are the voices of the neighborhood mothers who previously knew Alice. According to the book’s description, these chapters are supposed to frame suburbia as its own sort of cult, but it just felt too try-hard to me. (Bookshop | Kindle)
“Maggie Finds Her Muse” by Dee Ernst (via Netgalley): 2.75 stars
I wanted to like this more than I did. Maggie is an author of a popular book series and a draft of the final installment is due soon. Of course, she gets writer’s block and happens to have a close friend who lives in Paris who generously offers her use of his apartment. And! Her daughter happens to be living in France. How convenient. I love Paris, obviously, but the ensuing romance was just so obvious and the plotline was just meh to me. (Bookshop | Kindle)
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