nerdyprettythings's reviews
495 reviews

You know when you’re sure a book is going to be amazing but difficult and that’s why you put it off? That’s me with this book. And it was amazing. If you’ve ever enjoyed dystopia, if you want to read about abolition but heavy non-fiction doesn’t feel accessible - read this book. The story and the characters are so engaging, but it also has quite a few footnotes calling out the real-life laws that make this society not far off. 
This book also does an *incredible* job of acknowledging the wrongs characters have done and forcing readers to reckon with the characters’ humanity and how WE treat people.
The ending of this one had me wheeze-crying when the “we hope you have enjoyed” rolled and honestly, when a book earns that, it’s going to stay with me (looking at you Vivek Oji). So yeah you should read this.
For queer readers - the main story, and the MC, have a heartbreaking, devastating present, but as I read about the past, I was especially impressed with how the book forced me to reckon with my own feelings. I’m re-reading In the Dream House right now, and [MINOR SPOILER] the MC’s past is basically as the villain of ITDH. 
So anyway, yeah, I found the writing and the internal struggle and also the like, feeling that there is a right answer, even though it’s okay to struggle with that feeling, so so good. 
I really want to pick up We Will Not Cancel Us next, I feel like it would be a good companion nonfiction for this aspect.

I felt like this entry in the series (book 3) was just okay. These are very short, almost like a two-part Law and Order episode than a thriller novel. Still, I really enjoy the concept of someone whose job it is to kill people to save their lives, and the way unsavory characters try to get around the rules in a universe that brings back people who have been murdered. 

A prickly, sapphic octogenarian puzzle master is the main character so HELLO I was obsessed with her from the beginning. There’s a great supporting cast too, I enjoyed so much of the book. There is a jigsaw puzzle at the center of the mystery, as well as a lot of anagrams. These kind of got lost in the audio, but if I had been thinking more deeply about the MC’s blind spots I probably would have caught at least one of them. 
My only real gripe is the ending. I don’t think the solution came together particularly well, or was revealed well, but I overall still really enjoyed the book, and especially Edie. 

This graphic novel was super cute. It also has some depth - it's a retelling of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey (which I really want to read now) and the story of queer kids in Abilene, TX. I really enjoyed the choice of setting for an American, modern version of a remote gothic story. Sometimes I have to remind myself that things are written for kids, and this is a little explain-y at the end. But I think the young queer kids in your life would especially enjoy it.

Am I in my "saving the best books for the end of the year" era? This is definitely one of my favorites of the year. The description of the titular Farm sounds like dystopia, but nothing in it is far from reality, especially the lives that led the different women there. I thought the juxtaposition of the treatment and outcomes of the (white, educated) "premium" hosts and the (POC, poor) women who made up the majority of those at the Farm was done with a lot of care. There's also some really interesting stuff happening with the people "in charge" of the recruitment and running of the Farm. But also holy crap it made me want to kill some people and that's the mark of a really great book imo.

Sometimes you want a little Christmas-y erotica. Featuring guys who are already together bringing a cute chubby girl home 🥵🌶
I don’t read a lot of this and I was thrown off a little by a few anatomically ridiculous descriptions. But overall, very spicy, very fun. 
CW: one character lies about being his twin celebrity brother and this doesn’t get resolved until after sexy times ensue. It reads as “this guy is an idiot” rather than “he tricked her,” but if this would prevent you from enjoying, it’s a big part of the (thin, but that’s okay it’s not the point) plot

I’m free! I did it! 
Very thankful for the spooky contingent of the Book Babes who chose this as a book club pick - I would never have finished it without them. This book is a no. There is a good story in there though, and you can find it in the 1990 miniseries version of the story (plus that version has Tim Curry). 
I can’t believe Stephen King hasn’t had to issue some kind of “I was on really bad drugs” apology for a lot of the stuff in this one. The racial slurs and POV abusers etc throughout the book felt gratuitous and gross. I’ll rarely say it, but skip the book, you’ll get all you need from the 1990 movie and also you won’t have to scream “whyyyyy Steve?!” from the rafters like I did. 

I loved it. I don't think it's perfect, but it's really good. The men in this book made me so mad by about 5% in that I was like "hell yeah, let the demons burn it all down,” which was a very fun starting place. I also really liked the MC and her journey. If you're looking for a book that gives The VVitch vibes, (plus some witch trial panic stuff) this is for you.

This was a good nearly-Halloween pick. A young woman is possessed by a native goddess, and her group of friends end up learning about their history and their future. The possession is basically a metaphor for growing up, and if you’re squirmish, it’s not really scary. I don’t think this one quite sticks the ending, but it was a good quick read.