ARC, Books

Book 1,019: The West – Naoíse Mac Sweeney

Book cover of "The West" with Amazon Affiliate linkThis was a fascinating read. Mac Sweeney takes what you think you know about “Western Civilization” and attempts to flip it on its head via fourteen mini-biographies about historical figures, only a few of which I knew immediately.

I feel horrible it’s taken me this long to push my response out. The publisher reached out in January 2023. I blew past the publication date in May 2023, and finally read it in December 2023. So, I’m hanging my head, because it’s now taken me another month and a half to actually publish my response.

Continue reading “Book 1,019: The West – Naoíse Mac Sweeney”

Books

Book 1,006: Out of This World (Browerton University #5) – A.J. Truman

Book cover of "Out of this World" with Amazon Affiliate linkAs I mentioned in my Out for the Night review, I think this is probably my second favorite of the series. I would say it has to do with the England setting, and that’s some of it, but most of it is just Rafe for me. It also might have something to do with the opening line being a Pride and Prejudice parody 😀

This book takes us away from the Browerton campus (as does the next one, which I had issues with) for a study abroad program. We still get to check in on Coop and Matty, but it’s pretty removed from the rest of the stories.

Continue reading “Book 1,006: Out of This World (Browerton University #5) – A.J. Truman”

Books

Book 978: Never Ever Getting Back Together – Sophie Gonzales

Book cover of "Never Ever Getting Back Together" with Amazon Affiliate linkI’ve been looking forward to reading this one since Wednesday Books’ marketing team reached out way back in April!* I generally like to read a book closer to release so I held off on reading it and then of course missed the release by two weeks, but what can you do when life and school and work get so busy you barely have time to do anything but get from day-to-day?

My first interaction with Sophie Gonzalez was her collaboration with Cale Dietrich If This Gets Out and after adoring that when this landed in my inbox I immediately said yes and am so glad I did. This brings a new romance that I haven’t read in a long time to my site (FF) and increases bisexual representation as the two protagonists are both bisexual! I’m still giggling about this line:

Continue reading “Book 978: Never Ever Getting Back Together – Sophie Gonzales”

Books

Book 887: If This Gets Out – Sophie Gonzales & Cale Dietrich

Book cover of "If This Gets Out" with Amazon Affiliate linkMy little closeted teenage heart would’ve died to read something like this in the late-90s/early-00s. So, when I saw it on NetGalley I requested it IMMEDIATELY, the publisher approved, and I have been sitting on it for months.*

I know I’ve said it before and I’ll keep on saying it—I am SO jealous of all the teens today getting to see themselves in books like this. I mean hell I enjoy them and I am WELL outside the target demographic for these.

Continue reading “Book 887: If This Gets Out – Sophie Gonzales & Cale Dietrich”

Books

Book 885: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man – James Joyce

Book cover of "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" with Amazon Affiliate link Ugh—I should’ve given up while I was ahead, or used the same app I used to slog my way through Ulysses. This was the longest 215 pages of my life.

I actually broke down for the last chapter and found an audiobook version from my local library to listen to at 1.25x speed while sorting data and stuff at work. So, at the very least I can say I enjoyed the Irish accents for that portion of it and the Whaley last name shout out about 75% of the way through 😀

Continue reading “Book 885: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man – James Joyce”