Scan barcode
smokedshelves's reviews
483 reviews
A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft
5.0
i’m having a very weird feeling of deja vu as i write this review. similar to the start of last year, i am holding any reviews due to the marketing boycott for SMP titles, which wednesday books falls under. so, as i echo from my sentiment in previous boycotts… i don’t know when this review will see the light of day. but it shows the power in readership and boycotts if you do see these words. okay… onto my thoughts:
thank you to st. martin’s press, wednesday books, and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
file under: we really need trad publishers to start using new adult as an age range.
i need to start with the one thing that will endlessly bother me about modern day traditional publishing. and it’s nothing to fault the actual story in saft’s case as these characters are well… adults (albeit still very young ones). but it’s the fact that we still do not recognize new adult as a true age range for stories following characters between 18-24. there has been an ongoing discourse about the concept of young adult versus new adult. in contemporary stories, we can distinguish it as stories set in high school versus in college (university). in fantasy it gets a bit more complicated.
but in the case of a fragile enchantment, i fully believe it should have been published as a new adult title and here’s why. the open door sex scene. i know we have run the debate about the fact that yes. teens can and do have sex. however, when we are marketing something as YA, that can bring readership as young as 13 or 14. disagree with me if you’d like, but i personally do not believe that a book that is marketed to as young as that age should have any graphic sex scenes. and the fact that this book does have a scene where it does go into explicit detail, i just don’t think that’s appropriate to be labelled as YA anymore. this has become more and more a problem as authors recognize adults, like me, are reading and enjoying YA titles, so they skew the contents up a bit more.
long story short, this is why we need to have new adult as a widely recognized age range. for stories like this one to fall neater into.
anyways, with that rant over. let’s get into the actual contents of this book. i so absolutely adored this book. this story, no matter how sappy, how predictable it was, was just an absolute gem and it’s all thanks to niamh and kit. their dynamic was beyond enticing. their banter, their tenderness. all of it was what kept me coming back into this world. into sootham. while i know others might say it’s instalove, i would disagree. the attraction. sure, that was absolutely there from the beginning. but i just loved seeing their relationship unfold, as they spoke and snuck around. gods, did it have me giggling and kicking my feet like i was also a lovesick puppy.
and while yes, the romance was at the forefront of the story — alongside niamh’s tailoring of course — the other layers of discussion woven in. the discussion of queer identities in this world, how both niamh and kit were bi (or pan), we know they don’t really have the labels so i won’t assign one specifically. how kit said “you’re like me”. that’s where i was sold. in the end we had a beautiful, little queer found family situation and i truly loved each and every one of them.
and let’s not forget the fact that niamh gave us an honest depiction of a chronic illness, one that did not let her stop her but did impact her quite often in the story. i truly, truly appreciate having this disability rep on page because i had no idea that there was any. i really appreciate how saft incorporated all of these elements into the story without them taking away or becoming a focus point away from the main political plot line.
truly, a beautiful romance wrapped in even more beautiful prose.
thank you to st. martin’s press, wednesday books, and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
file under: we really need trad publishers to start using new adult as an age range.
i need to start with the one thing that will endlessly bother me about modern day traditional publishing. and it’s nothing to fault the actual story in saft’s case as these characters are well… adults (albeit still very young ones). but it’s the fact that we still do not recognize new adult as a true age range for stories following characters between 18-24. there has been an ongoing discourse about the concept of young adult versus new adult. in contemporary stories, we can distinguish it as stories set in high school versus in college (university). in fantasy it gets a bit more complicated.
but in the case of a fragile enchantment, i fully believe it should have been published as a new adult title and here’s why. the open door sex scene. i know we have run the debate about the fact that yes. teens can and do have sex. however, when we are marketing something as YA, that can bring readership as young as 13 or 14. disagree with me if you’d like, but i personally do not believe that a book that is marketed to as young as that age should have any graphic sex scenes. and the fact that this book does have a scene where it does go into explicit detail, i just don’t think that’s appropriate to be labelled as YA anymore. this has become more and more a problem as authors recognize adults, like me, are reading and enjoying YA titles, so they skew the contents up a bit more.
long story short, this is why we need to have new adult as a widely recognized age range. for stories like this one to fall neater into.
anyways, with that rant over. let’s get into the actual contents of this book. i so absolutely adored this book. this story, no matter how sappy, how predictable it was, was just an absolute gem and it’s all thanks to niamh and kit. their dynamic was beyond enticing. their banter, their tenderness. all of it was what kept me coming back into this world. into sootham. while i know others might say it’s instalove, i would disagree. the attraction. sure, that was absolutely there from the beginning. but i just loved seeing their relationship unfold, as they spoke and snuck around. gods, did it have me giggling and kicking my feet like i was also a lovesick puppy.
and while yes, the romance was at the forefront of the story — alongside niamh’s tailoring of course — the other layers of discussion woven in. the discussion of queer identities in this world, how both niamh and kit were bi (or pan), we know they don’t really have the labels so i won’t assign one specifically. how kit said “you’re like me”. that’s where i was sold. in the end we had a beautiful, little queer found family situation and i truly loved each and every one of them.
and let’s not forget the fact that niamh gave us an honest depiction of a chronic illness, one that did not let her stop her but did impact her quite often in the story. i truly, truly appreciate having this disability rep on page because i had no idea that there was any. i really appreciate how saft incorporated all of these elements into the story without them taking away or becoming a focus point away from the main political plot line.
truly, a beautiful romance wrapped in even more beautiful prose.
This Day Changes Everything by Edward Underhill
5.0
thank you to st. martin’s press, wednesday books, and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
another week passes and we have another raving review that may never see the light of day. but as i write this (a bit later than i planned but still possibly much much earlier than anyone will see this) i fondly think back to my time reading this gem of a book.
after reviewing edward underhill’s debut last year and absolutely adoring it, i had high hopes for their sophomore novel and he sure did not disappoint. this story of two teens in marching band having shenanigans across new york city on thanksgiving eve was the story i never knew i truly needed. not even discussing the characters yet, the actual plot of two teens separating from their high school groups going on essentially a scavenger hunt across the city, all while coming to terms with their feelings, their identities, it was peak 2000s rom-com energy for me. and if it wasn’t marketed as that, it definitely should be.
getting to follow abby and leo’s live in this 2 day snippet was truly a highlight. it’s always so funny to read about people visiting the city i grew up around for the first time. experiencing the overwhelming energy that is NYC. and underhill depicted their adventures so well. showcasing some iconic and popular landmarks, up to the quintessential experiences like the hole-in-the-wall pizza places. were the native new yorkers a tad too nice to our out of towners… yes. but we let it slide in the name of romcom movie magic! i think overall, it was an honest look at the mayhem of the city, even (and especially really) before a major holiday.
i loved abby and leo so much. seeing them see each other, fully. accepting their queer identities. having this whirlwind romance and adventure. it was truly just so heartwarming. all i want is to read about them in college, anytime after the books ends really. their relationship is just so precious.
another week passes and we have another raving review that may never see the light of day. but as i write this (a bit later than i planned but still possibly much much earlier than anyone will see this) i fondly think back to my time reading this gem of a book.
after reviewing edward underhill’s debut last year and absolutely adoring it, i had high hopes for their sophomore novel and he sure did not disappoint. this story of two teens in marching band having shenanigans across new york city on thanksgiving eve was the story i never knew i truly needed. not even discussing the characters yet, the actual plot of two teens separating from their high school groups going on essentially a scavenger hunt across the city, all while coming to terms with their feelings, their identities, it was peak 2000s rom-com energy for me. and if it wasn’t marketed as that, it definitely should be.
getting to follow abby and leo’s live in this 2 day snippet was truly a highlight. it’s always so funny to read about people visiting the city i grew up around for the first time. experiencing the overwhelming energy that is NYC. and underhill depicted their adventures so well. showcasing some iconic and popular landmarks, up to the quintessential experiences like the hole-in-the-wall pizza places. were the native new yorkers a tad too nice to our out of towners… yes. but we let it slide in the name of romcom movie magic! i think overall, it was an honest look at the mayhem of the city, even (and especially really) before a major holiday.
i loved abby and leo so much. seeing them see each other, fully. accepting their queer identities. having this whirlwind romance and adventure. it was truly just so heartwarming. all i want is to read about them in college, anytime after the books ends really. their relationship is just so precious.
The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas
3.0
thank you to atria books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
i’ve been going back and forth ALL over the ratings board from 2-4 stars, so i think landing solidly in the middle is fair. this book was close to being a SLOG to get through. josie is such a tough character to be in the head of. every time she got herself into wacky situations, without thinking anything through, had me wanting to pull out my head. i mean, truly, i was close to calling it a quits early on with just her narration style.
i switched over to audio about a quarter of the way through, not because of the writing per se (rather because i was on a road trip and needed to listen something. so two birds, one stone). but man did that make so much of the difference. the ditziness definitely became a bit easier to stomach. i mean i was still like “girl what the actual fuck are you doing!” but those moments were definitely fewer than in the front end.
i also think as their plot progresses and as matt and josie’s relationship develops, him being around more also helped the case. matthew was truly the saving grace of this book. the way he went with all of josie’s dumb decisions,,, he really is what made this book worth continuing on. and now, while i really didn’t find myself loving josie (and i’m still irked we still never really get any clarification into WHY she was engaged 4 times, or what happened so that they’d all still be friendly with her) their relationship was still lovely to see develop.
i’ve been going back and forth ALL over the ratings board from 2-4 stars, so i think landing solidly in the middle is fair. this book was close to being a SLOG to get through. josie is such a tough character to be in the head of. every time she got herself into wacky situations, without thinking anything through, had me wanting to pull out my head. i mean, truly, i was close to calling it a quits early on with just her narration style.
i switched over to audio about a quarter of the way through, not because of the writing per se (rather because i was on a road trip and needed to listen something. so two birds, one stone). but man did that make so much of the difference. the ditziness definitely became a bit easier to stomach. i mean i was still like “girl what the actual fuck are you doing!” but those moments were definitely fewer than in the front end.
i also think as their plot progresses and as matt and josie’s relationship develops, him being around more also helped the case. matthew was truly the saving grace of this book. the way he went with all of josie’s dumb decisions,,, he really is what made this book worth continuing on. and now, while i really didn’t find myself loving josie (and i’m still irked we still never really get any clarification into WHY she was engaged 4 times, or what happened so that they’d all still be friendly with her) their relationship was still lovely to see develop.
Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories by Sandra Proudman
3.0
it seems the only way for me (personally) to rate anthologies is to rate each story separately so...
1. shame & social media by anna meriano (pride + prejudice) — 2⭐️
2. break in case of persephone by olivia abtathi (hades + persephone) — 3⭐️
3. thornfield by monica sanz (jane eyre) — 5⭐️
4. la cotorra y el flamboyán by amparo ortiz (nightingale + the rose) — 2⭐️
5. goldi and the three bodies by saraciea j fennell (goldilocks) — 2⭐️
6. this mortal coil by david bowles (hamlet) — 4⭐️
7. juna and the fox boy by raquel vasquez gilliland (beauty + the beast) — 5⭐️
8. prefiero no by alexandra villasante (bartleby, the scrivner) — 3⭐️
9. trespassers will be… by torrey moldonado (theseus + the minotaur) — 2⭐️
10. isla bella by ari trison (the great gatsby) — 3⭐️
11. evermore by nonieqa ramos (the raven) — 4⭐️
12. celia’s song by jasminne mendez (the little mermaid) — 4⭐️
13. esmeralda by laura pohl (sir gawain + the green night) — 4⭐️
14. twenty thousand leagues away from me by eric smith (twenty thousand leagues under the sea) — 3⭐️
15. heart of the sea by zoraida córdova (frankenstein) — 4⭐️
16. tesoro by sandra proudman (the old man + the sea) — 2⭐️
overall average rating for the anthology: 3.25⭐️
1. shame & social media by anna meriano (pride + prejudice) — 2⭐️
2. break in case of persephone by olivia abtathi (hades + persephone) — 3⭐️
3. thornfield by monica sanz (jane eyre) — 5⭐️
4. la cotorra y el flamboyán by amparo ortiz (nightingale + the rose) — 2⭐️
5. goldi and the three bodies by saraciea j fennell (goldilocks) — 2⭐️
6. this mortal coil by david bowles (hamlet) — 4⭐️
7. juna and the fox boy by raquel vasquez gilliland (beauty + the beast) — 5⭐️
8. prefiero no by alexandra villasante (bartleby, the scrivner) — 3⭐️
9. trespassers will be… by torrey moldonado (theseus + the minotaur) — 2⭐️
10. isla bella by ari trison (the great gatsby) — 3⭐️
11. evermore by nonieqa ramos (the raven) — 4⭐️
12. celia’s song by jasminne mendez (the little mermaid) — 4⭐️
13. esmeralda by laura pohl (sir gawain + the green night) — 4⭐️
14. twenty thousand leagues away from me by eric smith (twenty thousand leagues under the sea) — 3⭐️
15. heart of the sea by zoraida córdova (frankenstein) — 4⭐️
16. tesoro by sandra proudman (the old man + the sea) — 2⭐️
overall average rating for the anthology: 3.25⭐️