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amyvl93's reviews
874 reviews
Girls Out Late by Jacqueline Wilson
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2024 Reread: So, I have been quite enjoying revisiting these novels ahead of the release of Think Again, and this is the first one I have not enjoyed rereading. In this installment, Ellie gets herself an actual real life boyfriend after they lock eyes over their sketchbooks. Meanwhile, Nadine has run-ins with her toxic ex-boyfriend earlier in the series, and Magda has a crush on their teacher. There are some...bizarre plot turns in this book, and Ellie's usual charm is a bit absent as she becomes truly obsessed with her boyfriend. Nadine probably has the most interesting storyline in reckoning with her previous experience but this is largely sidelined. A bit of a miss unfortunately!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Sexual harassment
This Lovely City by Louise Hare
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This Lovely City takes place in London in the 1950s, in the years after the Second World War and the arrival of the Windrush. Our protagonists are Lawrie, a young man from Jamaica who is convinced to come to the UK by his late brother's friend, a postman-turned-jazz musician and Evie, the (literal) girl next door, who is mixed race and being raised by her single white mother.
When Lawrie discovers the body of a mixed-race baby apparently drowned on his way home from work, the police and wider community suspicion lands on the growing Black community in South London.
The immediate post-war years don't always get covered in fiction, the bleakness does not lend itself to fiction, and I found that Hare vividly bought to life the sense of just...grey that seemed to haunt the London of this story, especially through Lawrie's eyes. This makes the scenes of snatched joy - warm summer flashbacks, successful jazz concerts - bounce off the page much more.
Hare's focus on the experience of the Windrush arrivals was also interesting, I had next to no awareness of the process they went through on arrival, of having to sleep in shelters and, despite the request for labour, struggle they had finding work due to the blatant racism of war-torn England.
Another strength of Hare's, for the most part, was her portrayal of the 'chosen family' of fellow musicians that Lawrie has within his community - I really liked their interactions and different responses to the increasing police pressure on them and their peers. Similarly, I liked Evie's relationship with her friend Delia.
There were times, however, when it felt like This Lovely City couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be - a historical portrait of the Windrush experience with a side of romance or a crime thriller. I found the latter to be increasingly uninteresting, and the reveal that we get felt a bit unbelievable, even for all that character's flaws. This meant that at times I wasn't compelled to pick it up, just because I wasn't sure what narrative I was really reading.
All in all, this is a good read - it ends neatly and I think shines a light on a generation that did an awful lot for this country with very little thanks.
When Lawrie discovers the body of a mixed-race baby apparently drowned on his way home from work, the police and wider community suspicion lands on the growing Black community in South London.
The immediate post-war years don't always get covered in fiction, the bleakness does not lend itself to fiction, and I found that Hare vividly bought to life the sense of just...grey that seemed to haunt the London of this story, especially through Lawrie's eyes. This makes the scenes of snatched joy - warm summer flashbacks, successful jazz concerts - bounce off the page much more.
Hare's focus on the experience of the Windrush arrivals was also interesting, I had next to no awareness of the process they went through on arrival, of having to sleep in shelters and, despite the request for labour, struggle they had finding work due to the blatant racism of war-torn England.
Another strength of Hare's, for the most part, was her portrayal of the 'chosen family' of fellow musicians that Lawrie has within his community - I really liked their interactions and different responses to the increasing police pressure on them and their peers. Similarly, I liked Evie's relationship with her friend Delia.
There were times, however, when it felt like This Lovely City couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be - a historical portrait of the Windrush experience with a side of romance or a crime thriller. I found the latter to be increasingly uninteresting, and the reveal that we get felt a bit unbelievable, even for all that character's flaws. This meant that at times I wasn't compelled to pick it up, just because I wasn't sure what narrative I was really reading.
All in all, this is a good read - it ends neatly and I think shines a light on a generation that did an awful lot for this country with very little thanks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Police brutality
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Murder
Girls Under Pressure by Jacqueline Wilson
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2024 reread: Girls Under Pressure is the second in the Girls series, and this one delves even more so than the first into Ellie's struggles with her body and weight. Whilst her friend Nadine dabbles in a potential modelling career and Magda is attracting boys, Ellie becomes convinced that she needs to dramatically lose weight. Whilst it will definitely be a difficult read if you've ever struggled with your relationship with food this will be a tricky read, but it also felt very truthful to that mindset. The ending is a little too neat - and I felt like the novel didn't unpack Magda's experience in particular in as much detail - but still enjoying revisting this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Fatphobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I wanted to love this so much but An Orchestra of Minorities really didn't work for me. The novel follows Nonso, a poultry farmer who one night saves a woman from jumping off a bridge. He and the woman, Ndali, fall in love but her wealthy and educated family do not see him as a suitable husband. The novel than follows his attempts to win their favour.
It is narrated by Nonso's chi, who is defending some terrible action of his to the Gods and this chi was, initially, an interesting narrative device. They were moments of humour and warmth, and insight into human behaviour where the chi draws on his history of accompanying humans over the centuries. However, this narration also occasionally slowed the narrative right down until basically a stop. This meant the pacing just felt off at times - where they'd be moments of intense action and we would then get four pages of description, taking you away from the characters and their story.
What really didn't work for me was the denouement of the novel, where we learn what it was that Nonso did that has put him at the mercy of the gods. I couldn't work out if Obioma wanted us to buy the chi's case that he was somehow justified as a result of his various misfortunes and that did not sit well with me. Relatedly, I found that although Ndali is a fundamental character to the plot we never learn that much about her - men that Nonso spends brief periods with are typically better drawn, including the men in Ndali's family, which I found frustrating.
I think Obioma is undeniably a strong writer but this didn't work for me.
It is narrated by Nonso's chi, who is defending some terrible action of his to the Gods and this chi was, initially, an interesting narrative device. They were moments of humour and warmth, and insight into human behaviour where the chi draws on his history of accompanying humans over the centuries. However, this narration also occasionally slowed the narrative right down until basically a stop. This meant the pacing just felt off at times - where they'd be moments of intense action and we would then get four pages of description, taking you away from the characters and their story.
What really didn't work for me was the denouement of the novel, where we learn what it was that Nonso did that has put him at the mercy of the gods. I couldn't work out if Obioma wanted us to buy the chi's case that he was somehow justified as a result of his various misfortunes and that did not sit well with me. Relatedly, I found that although Ndali is a fundamental character to the plot we never learn that much about her - men that Nonso spends brief periods with are typically better drawn, including the men in Ndali's family, which I found frustrating.
I think Obioma is undeniably a strong writer but this didn't work for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Racism, Xenophobia, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide attempt
They Can't Kill Us All: The Story of Black Lives Matter by Wesley Lowery
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
It was strange to finish this book in the days after the killing of Sonya Massey by a police officer who she called for help, as it flagged how we know so much more about police brutality, but also how little has changed within these forces. They Can't Kill Us All came out in the immediate aftermath of the original rise of BLM in 2016, following police shootings across the US and the accompanying protests and calls for reform.
Whilst I did follow these cases at the time, this was a reminder of key details that I'd forgotten, and Lowery shines a light on the key individuals who mobilised local and national protest movements. Whilst there were times when we spent slightly more time exploring Lowery's writing process which was interesting but sometimes pulled away from individuals I would rather spend time with.
Given the way the movement has grown over the past few years, I'd be interested to read more writing by Lowery on the movement and the backlash its, inappropriately, received. This is a good read if you need a reminder or introduction to the movement.
Whilst I did follow these cases at the time, this was a reminder of key details that I'd forgotten, and Lowery shines a light on the key individuals who mobilised local and national protest movements. Whilst there were times when we spent slightly more time exploring Lowery's writing process which was interesting but sometimes pulled away from individuals I would rather spend time with.
Given the way the movement has grown over the past few years, I'd be interested to read more writing by Lowery on the movement and the backlash its, inappropriately, received. This is a good read if you need a reminder or introduction to the movement.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Police brutality
Girls in Love by Jacqueline Wilson
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
In advance of Jacqueline Wilson publishing her first adult novel as a continuation of this series, I thought I would revisit them. No rating, as I'm most definitely not the target audience for this series!
This first novel introduces us to Ellie, Magda and Nadine who are entering Year 9 (I'd slightly forgotten how young they are). Ellie desperately wants a boyfriend and for fear of being left out invents a perfect of paper guy whilst also contending with body image issues, and her stepmum and Dad's arguments and her Mum's death. Meanwhile Magda wants any boy to pay attention to her, and Nadine is dating a cool older boy - what could go wrong.
I sped through this and was reminded of just how well Wilson captures teenage girlhood in all its messiness, and even when there's quite neat storyline resolutions they never feel outside the realm of reality. I particularly liked her take on Nadine's relationship and the challenges there, and Ellie's relationship with her stepmum. Some have criticised this for Ellie's obsession about her body but this rang, unfortunately, true to me - especially given this is set in the 1990s.
I'll be making my way through the others very soon!
This first novel introduces us to Ellie, Magda and Nadine who are entering Year 9 (I'd slightly forgotten how young they are). Ellie desperately wants a boyfriend and for fear of being left out invents a perfect of paper guy whilst also contending with body image issues, and her stepmum and Dad's arguments and her Mum's death. Meanwhile Magda wants any boy to pay attention to her, and Nadine is dating a cool older boy - what could go wrong.
I sped through this and was reminded of just how well Wilson captures teenage girlhood in all its messiness, and even when there's quite neat storyline resolutions they never feel outside the realm of reality. I particularly liked her take on Nadine's relationship and the challenges there, and Ellie's relationship with her stepmum. Some have criticised this for Ellie's obsession about her body but this rang, unfortunately, true to me - especially given this is set in the 1990s.
I'll be making my way through the others very soon!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape and Sexual harassment
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Open Water is a really tricky book to rate and review - as it contains some really beautiful writing, wrapped around a central relationship I found hard to buy in to - and it's one of the most hyped contemporary novels out there.
The novel follows 'you' a young black British man living in South East London and working as a photographer who falls for a young black British woman studying between Dublin and London and wanting to be a dancer. It unpacks their relationship from friendship to something more, alongside the experience of being black in London and the world, trying to find a voice, and trying to find a sense of belonging.
As I mentioned, Nelson's writing is often really moving and I liked his depictions of London, of the different facets of masculinity and the way he wove references to music, literature and film throughout. However, the writing about love always kept me at something of a distance and at times felt overwrought - aside from their being a mutual attraction and connection this felt abstract on the page. I never quite got a grip on who 'she' was - and why there was an attraction and love there that was unlike any other. We are told frequently about the level of emotion that 'you' are experiencing, but this never quite connected with me as a reader.
Nelson is definitely a talented writer and I'd be interested in seeing what he continues to write - this just didn't quite work for me.
The novel follows 'you' a young black British man living in South East London and working as a photographer who falls for a young black British woman studying between Dublin and London and wanting to be a dancer. It unpacks their relationship from friendship to something more, alongside the experience of being black in London and the world, trying to find a voice, and trying to find a sense of belonging.
As I mentioned, Nelson's writing is often really moving and I liked his depictions of London, of the different facets of masculinity and the way he wove references to music, literature and film throughout. However, the writing about love always kept me at something of a distance and at times felt overwrought - aside from their being a mutual attraction and connection this felt abstract on the page. I never quite got a grip on who 'she' was - and why there was an attraction and love there that was unlike any other. We are told frequently about the level of emotion that 'you' are experiencing, but this never quite connected with me as a reader.
Nelson is definitely a talented writer and I'd be interested in seeing what he continues to write - this just didn't quite work for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, and Grief
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I'm very late to this party but what a wild party it is. For those living under a rock, Yellowface is R.F. Kuang's satire of the publishing industry following June (aka Juniper Song) who steals the manuscript from her frenemy Athena after she dies in a freak accident and decides to pass of the story of Chinese migrant labourers in WWI as her own.
Being in June's head for 300 pages was both unbearable but also undeniably engaging. There are so many opportunities for June to course correct that her ego and/or sense of entitlement and/or misguided belief in her own talent means that she refuses to change direction, ultimately building to the novel's finale.
Much of the content of Yellowface will be familiar to anyone who spends time on the literary internet - references to twitter accounts, YouTubers and review sites abound within the pages of the book. There were times when I couldn't quite grasp whether Kuang was using the pages of the novel to work out her own frustrations with criticism of her work which occasionally felt a bit uncomfortable as a reader. Athena felt a little too close to Kuang as a person for her portrayal to be as authentic as it could have been - we know she's privileged but aside from June constantly mentioning this, and a Twitter thread that is treated as suitably unhinged, we don't really unpack how she managed to break into the industry. I did also spot the likely 'antagonist' (from June's perspective) a mile off, which meant that the reveal at the end lost some of its punch.
Kuang is astute with her take on who gets to tell what stories, and she does this within a darkly comic story. She is such a great talent - to write as wide-ranging novels as Babel and Yellowface is remarkable and I'm eagerly awaiting her next work.
Being in June's head for 300 pages was both unbearable but also undeniably engaging. There are so many opportunities for June to course correct that her ego and/or sense of entitlement and/or misguided belief in her own talent means that she refuses to change direction, ultimately building to the novel's finale.
Much of the content of Yellowface will be familiar to anyone who spends time on the literary internet - references to twitter accounts, YouTubers and review sites abound within the pages of the book. There were times when I couldn't quite grasp whether Kuang was using the pages of the novel to work out her own frustrations with criticism of her work which occasionally felt a bit uncomfortable as a reader. Athena felt a little too close to Kuang as a person for her portrayal to be as authentic as it could have been - we know she's privileged but aside from June constantly mentioning this, and a Twitter thread that is treated as suitably unhinged, we don't really unpack how she managed to break into the industry. I did also spot the likely 'antagonist' (from June's perspective) a mile off, which meant that the reveal at the end lost some of its punch.
Kuang is astute with her take on who gets to tell what stories, and she does this within a darkly comic story. She is such a great talent - to write as wide-ranging novels as Babel and Yellowface is remarkable and I'm eagerly awaiting her next work.
River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicide, and Grief
The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Grief