Book Review: Small Favors by Erin A. Craig

Rating: 10/10

Favorite Character: Ellerie Downing (the main character, making this a super basic choice tbh)

So I have to start by saying that this is the second Erin A. Craig book I’ve read, and the one that has truly made her one of my favorite authors (admittedly, I have a lot of favorite others, so I’m not sure how much that means). This story plays with mythical/fantastical features to study the darkness that can reside, hidden, within the human heart. It serves both as a fascinating tale and a warning. In some ways, it is a Fae story, with otherworldly creatures for whom names and deals are important. There is certainly a supernatural aspect. But fundamentally, this book is about humans. One of the main questions looked upon in the book is what you would give for something you want. Would you harm another to help yourself? The characters in this book are all incredibly interesting because of their flaws. This book is absorbing, has fantastical aspects, and is very psychologically interesting. I would definitely recommend reading it.

Book Review: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rating: 8.5/10

Favorite Husbands: Rex North and Robert Jamison

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo revolves around, as the name might suggest, Evelyn Hugo, an enigmatic woman who, despite being ruthless and manipulative, is still a sympathetic character. Pragmatic and romantic, honest and sly, Evelyn is a contradictory character. The other characters in her story are no less complex, from those she holds dear to those whom oppose her. The story is also undeniably a piece of historical fiction; Evelyn’s story happens within a certain context, and her actions are strongly affected by the society she lives in. During the book, Evelyn is telling her story to a reporter, Monique, whom she specifically requested. Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the book is how we get to see Monique react to Evelyn’s stories, and apply the lessons she learns to her own life. And, of course, Monique’s relation to Evelyn, as well as Evelyn’s reasons telling her story, remains a mystery throughout most of the book, which makes for a shocking revelation near the end. Perhaps most meaningfully, in this book, Reid explores sexuality through a feminist lens, showing it in all its complicated aspects.

Book Review: The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

Rating: 8.5/10

Honestly, this book was rather intense. I was shocked by the ending. Lucy Foley manages a rather brilliant exploration of human nature. Rather than being shockingly gory, or unrealistically moralistic, she manages a striking realism, in which people are not perfect, and no one is completely innocent. Her multi-faceted characters interact in complex ways, and their feelings are conflicted and intense. The plot is gripping, and the multiple narrators each have an entirely different perspective on the people around them. All together, this is a fascinating, intriguing read, with unique, flawed characters.

Book Review: Difficult Women by Roxanne Gay

Rating: 9.75/10

Favorite Stories: North Country, Difficult Women, and The Mark of Cain

This book is a masterpiece. Do yourself a favor and read it. You will feel pain- it’s not an easy book to read, not because of the language, but because of the intense content. Many of these stories are full of pain and tragedy. So many of them are all too realistic- they may be works of fiction, but this does not make them any less true. None of the women in these stories are perfect. I’m not sure you can even call them “good.” But the world is not black and white. It is made of shades of gray, and like all of us, these women lie somewhere in between. This book is a complex intersectional portrayal of what it means to be a woman.

Book Review: The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Rating: 9/10

Favorite Character: Hannah

This book was pretty incredible. The story is from five different perspectives, all of whom are keeping secrets. The characters all share very complicated relationships as well as lush, painful backstories which are revealed piece by piece. No one character knows the full story, and you, as the reader, are given piece by piece until at the end, everything fits together, revealing a beautifully intricate puzzle that you have to read the book to discover. Dark, haunting, and heartbreaking, this book explores the worst of humanity in a unique story of revenge, ambition and pain.

Book Review: Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

Rating: 9.25/10

This book was amazing! Feminism, politics, romance, nobility, and history- what more could I ask for! This book is full of strong female characters who support each other. It definitely passes the Bechtel test. All the characters are intricate and fascinating. The relationships between all of them are fascinating. This book looks at the fight for women to vote, while also being a beautiful romance that, to a minor degree, mirrors Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. I adored this book. Seriously, please read it.

Book Review: Here the Whole Time by Vitor Martins

Rating: 7.75/10

This book was honestly pretty sweet. I didn’t find it to be, like, out of this world spectacular, but it was pretty good. A story about a boy with body weight issues and a crush on his neighbor, Felix’s journey to self-acceptance is realistic and relatable. The book includes a beautiful mother-son relationship, as well as an awesome friendship between Caio (the love interest) and his best friend (who is iconic and awesome). This book is a great read for when you’re feeling lazy and content.

Book Review: The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

A beautiful love story; strictly a romance, so not for the overly pretentious.

Rating: 9/10

Honestly, I loved this book. I just tore through the Bridgerton series. It’s a great way to escape reality. It’s a really fun novel. While Julia Quinn makes each Bridgerton the center of a novel, half the characters are from the point of view of the love interest. Kate, Anthony Bridgerton’s love interest in this book, is honestly my favorite character in the entire series. It’s actually beautifully written, and the witty banter will make you laugh. I could not put this book down. That being said, I’m absolutely terrified that the Netflix series is going to butcher my favorite book of the series (the first book is sooo much better than season 1), but the book is definitely worth a read!

Book Review: The Stolen Crown by Susan Higginbotham

Review: 9.5/10

I loved this book! The story is just so interesting! It’s basically the story of Katherine Woodville (she’s the sister of Elizabeth Woodville, Edward IV’s queen) and her husband Henry, the Duke of Buckingham. It’s set during the War of the Roses and both of the narrators have a front-seat view to, as well as a stake in, the conflict. The dynamics between all of the characters is really interesting, especially the dynamics between Henry and Richard III. Katherine is hilarious and intensely relatable. Her take on court life is guaranteed to make you smile. I would definitely recommend this book. I hope you enjoy it!

Book Review: The Ivies by Alexa Donne

Rating: 8.5/10

Honestly, this book reminded me a little too much of my school. It’s pretty much an exaggeration of uber-competitive crazy town high schools. It’s a story about the Ivies, a clique of girls who work together to get into their Ivy- taking down their competition. What would you do to make your dreams come true? How far would you go? In this book, someone goes as far as murder. This was an incredibly psychologically interesting read; have fun with it, but try to remember to not take the book, or yourself, too seriously.