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bumblebee's reviews
134 reviews
Not Your Villain by C.B. Lee
4.5
Before starting this book, I was a little sad that I wouldn't be spending any more time reading from Jess' perspective (I'd gotten rather fond of her during the first book), but I soon realised this would be a recurring problem, because BELLS IS AMAZING AND I LOVE HIM. Now I am sad I won't be spending any more time in his head. (As I'm sure I will feel about Emma after the next one.)
This book is just amazing. I liked it a lot more than the first one (which I liked a lot already, but took a while to get into). At the start I was a little worried the entire book would just be a retelling of book 1 from Bells' perspective, but it soon shifts into the 'current' time, and I feel like the time spent in the past was definitely useful in getting to know Bells and his life.
I'm not sure what else to say that isn't just me gushing over how cool Bells is. How cool this book is. How cool the representation in it is. I am just in love!!! Go read this series! :)
This book is just amazing. I liked it a lot more than the first one (which I liked a lot already, but took a while to get into). At the start I was a little worried the entire book would just be a retelling of book 1 from Bells' perspective, but it soon shifts into the 'current' time, and I feel like the time spent in the past was definitely useful in getting to know Bells and his life.
I'm not sure what else to say that isn't just me gushing over how cool Bells is. How cool this book is. How cool the representation in it is. I am just in love!!! Go read this series! :)
Bloom by Kevin Panetta
Wow, what a comic. I really enjoyed this story. Reading this made me feel really happy, and I especially loved the spread pages with the flowing panels when the main characters are baking together. This book has a strong aesthetic and great mood and I am LIVING for it.
The book itself is also GORGEOUS. I got the paperback and it has a really lovely soft matte cover with shiny, embossed letters for the title.
Fantastic!
The book itself is also GORGEOUS. I got the paperback and it has a really lovely soft matte cover with shiny, embossed letters for the title.
Fantastic!
What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter
3.0
This was an enjoyable read and an interesting look into the world of book blogging. I liked the characters (I'm especially fond of Ollie, the younger brother) and I liked that each of the main cast had complexity to them, that wasn't necessarily related to the plot.
My main point of criticism, and the reason for the lower rating is that I feel like the final resolution came too late into the story. Halle keeps her book blogger identity a secret for a much too long time, and though I feel like her internal reasoning is well portrayed through her obvious anxiety, it made me dislike her more and more as the book went on. I think I would have enjoyed this more if she'd confessed her double identity earlier on in the story. As it stands, I'm not certain if she's really redeemed herself to the reader at the end. (The resolution isn't given much room to breathe, as it comes in the final few pages of the book.)
One thing I'm glad about is that she eventually goes to therapy for her anxiety, but it's really only mentioned near the end of the book, and I wish that, too, had been earlier on in the story.
My main point of criticism, and the reason for the lower rating is that I feel like the final resolution came too late into the story. Halle keeps her book blogger identity a secret for a much too long time, and though I feel like her internal reasoning is well portrayed through her obvious anxiety, it made me dislike her more and more as the book went on. I think I would have enjoyed this more if she'd confessed her double identity earlier on in the story. As it stands, I'm not certain if she's really redeemed herself to the reader at the end. (The resolution isn't given much room to breathe, as it comes in the final few pages of the book.)
One thing I'm glad about is that she eventually goes to therapy for her anxiety, but it's really only mentioned near the end of the book, and I wish that, too, had been earlier on in the story.
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book, the story took a little while to really grab me, but once I got into it, I was *really* into it.
Two things bothered me about this book, however. The first is the "found footage" style writing, especially the side comments [written like this]. Not once did those fail to completely break all immersion I might have had, and I feel like they're part of the reason this was a little difficult to get into. Every time there was a side comment, it distracted me, and then other times I found it strange that certain things were being said *without* the other character making snarky comments about it. All in all, I feel like this book could have done without those bits altogether.
The second thing that bothered me was the switching point of view. I'm not sure if this is just me, but I often didn't notice the POV had switched to Sadie, and sometimes went 2 to 4 pages of reading, thinking it was Carter, before realising the POV had changed, and needing to flip back to reread that part with the new character context. Maybe it's because the book started with Carter, but Sadie's bits felt like the odd ones out to me until the very end.
That's not to say I didn't like her POV, but since the entire book is written in first person, I ended up finding it more confusing than anything. I think I would have had less of an issue if this was written in third person.
Other than that, I really enjoyed this and I'm looking forward to the next one!
Two things bothered me about this book, however. The first is the "found footage" style writing, especially the side comments [written like this]. Not once did those fail to completely break all immersion I might have had, and I feel like they're part of the reason this was a little difficult to get into. Every time there was a side comment, it distracted me, and then other times I found it strange that certain things were being said *without* the other character making snarky comments about it. All in all, I feel like this book could have done without those bits altogether.
The second thing that bothered me was the switching point of view. I'm not sure if this is just me, but I often didn't notice the POV had switched to Sadie, and sometimes went 2 to 4 pages of reading, thinking it was Carter, before realising the POV had changed, and needing to flip back to reread that part with the new character context. Maybe it's because the book started with Carter, but Sadie's bits felt like the odd ones out to me until the very end.
That's not to say I didn't like her POV, but since the entire book is written in first person, I ended up finding it more confusing than anything. I think I would have had less of an issue if this was written in third person.
Other than that, I really enjoyed this and I'm looking forward to the next one!
Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee
4.0
This book took about 50 pages to grow on me, but when it did, I was completely hooked!
I love the characters, and I soon found myself deeply caring about all of them. Jess is a fun character and while she takes a little time to catch on to things that are likely more obvious to the reader, it works very well to see her slowly unravel the mysteries around her. I also really enjoyed the start of the romance, and I like that it isn't the sole focus of the book.
The only thing that irked me a little (especially at the beginning) was some repetitive exposition. You know when you read a sequel and in the first few chapters the author keeps dropping small explanations of things you already know from reading the first book, to jog your memory? I felt like this book did that, except over and over in the first few chapters, repeating information that was already clear to me. (I have since read the sequel which hilariously actually does NOT do this, so I'm not sure what's up with that.) Either way, it didn't bother me anymore once I'd gotten fully invested in the plot :)
I highly recommend this series!
I love the characters, and I soon found myself deeply caring about all of them. Jess is a fun character and while she takes a little time to catch on to things that are likely more obvious to the reader, it works very well to see her slowly unravel the mysteries around her. I also really enjoyed the start of the romance, and I like that it isn't the sole focus of the book.
The only thing that irked me a little (especially at the beginning) was some repetitive exposition. You know when you read a sequel and in the first few chapters the author keeps dropping small explanations of things you already know from reading the first book, to jog your memory? I felt like this book did that, except over and over in the first few chapters, repeating information that was already clear to me. (I have since read the sequel which hilariously actually does NOT do this, so I'm not sure what's up with that.) Either way, it didn't bother me anymore once I'd gotten fully invested in the plot :)
I highly recommend this series!
Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins
1.5
This is a fun book with an exciting premise that lacks in execution and chemistry.
I just didn't really care for the romance, the characters don't have great chemistry and the transitions from "enemies" to "friends" to "lovers" don't really make sense. Arguments are resolved without the initial problem ever being resolved, and it seems like the characters just kinda go through the motions set out for them.
I'm disappointed, because I really wanted to love this :(
I just didn't really care for the romance, the characters don't have great chemistry and the transitions from "enemies" to "friends" to "lovers" don't really make sense. Arguments are resolved without the initial problem ever being resolved, and it seems like the characters just kinda go through the motions set out for them.
I'm disappointed, because I really wanted to love this :(
Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
1.5
I really wanted to love this book, and I do LOVE the premise, and I’m glad to see bisexual representation, but I have to admit I found the execution lacking.
I just never really connected with the main character. The story is told in the first person, but I never felt like I really got to know Tanner, and I kept forgetting his name until, like, the last third of the book (when it is mentioned a lot more).
I liked the budding relationship and conflict surrounding Tanner and Sebastian, but I feel like the payoff wasn’t really there in the end, and I found it unsatisfying that a lot of what felt like the resolution of the main plot was tacked on as a sort of afterthought in the prologue, which felt like it should just have been a final chapter.
Also what the fuck was Spoilerthat scene where Tanner suddenly had sex with Autumn??? Just what the fuck. That really bothered me on SO many levels, and I didn’t really recover from the shock of that. I initially (due to the sort of... fade to black) assumed they’d made out or something (which would be weird and bad enough). It really disturbed me when it was revealed he’d just??? Sadly??????? Taken her virginity???? Because he was upset???? Just WHAT.
I also just... hated Tanner’s parents, especially his mum. I understand she has issues and I respect a properly flawed character, but FORBIDDING HER SON TO COME OUT AND FORCING HIM INTO THE CLOSET, and still being portrayed as super progressive and accepting??? And literally never changing as the story progressed? Bothered the fuck out of me.
On another note, this book was VERY America-centric. I’m European, and I had to pull out my phone to Google things that were presented as presumed knowledge, an issue I don’t normally have with American books. I can respect that the authors assume a reader would know where in America Yale and UCLA are located, so I’m not counting that, but stuff like sudden, unexplained abbreviations (LDS????) really annoyed me because there wasn’t enough context given to understand what the author meant without pulling up a Wikipedia article.
Overall, I’m still glad this book exists, gives certain representation, and understand that it will certainly resonate with others, but I simply did not find it more than an acceptably enjoyable read.
I just never really connected with the main character. The story is told in the first person, but I never felt like I really got to know Tanner, and I kept forgetting his name until, like, the last third of the book (when it is mentioned a lot more).
I liked the budding relationship and conflict surrounding Tanner and Sebastian, but I feel like the payoff wasn’t really there in the end, and I found it unsatisfying that a lot of what felt like the resolution of the main plot was tacked on as a sort of afterthought in the prologue, which felt like it should just have been a final chapter.
Also what the fuck was Spoilerthat scene where Tanner suddenly had sex with Autumn??? Just what the fuck. That really bothered me on SO many levels, and I didn’t really recover from the shock of that. I initially (due to the sort of... fade to black) assumed they’d made out or something (which would be weird and bad enough). It really disturbed me when it was revealed he’d just??? Sadly??????? Taken her virginity???? Because he was upset???? Just WHAT.
I also just... hated Tanner’s parents, especially his mum. I understand she has issues and I respect a properly flawed character, but FORBIDDING HER SON TO COME OUT AND FORCING HIM INTO THE CLOSET, and still being portrayed as super progressive and accepting??? And literally never changing as the story progressed? Bothered the fuck out of me.
On another note, this book was VERY America-centric. I’m European, and I had to pull out my phone to Google things that were presented as presumed knowledge, an issue I don’t normally have with American books. I can respect that the authors assume a reader would know where in America Yale and UCLA are located, so I’m not counting that, but stuff like sudden, unexplained abbreviations (LDS????) really annoyed me because there wasn’t enough context given to understand what the author meant without pulling up a Wikipedia article.
Overall, I’m still glad this book exists, gives certain representation, and understand that it will certainly resonate with others, but I simply did not find it more than an acceptably enjoyable read.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
5.0
This book was absolutely wonderful.
I went into this without reading the synopsis beyond the initial announcement of "lesbian subway romance" and let me tell you, if you don't know what it is about yet, please consider going in blind and allow this book to take you on an absolutely amazing adventure.
I've been in a major reading slump since September 2020, and I finished this whole book in two days. My crops are watered, my skin is clear. Thank you for the beautiful story, Casey.
I went into this without reading the synopsis beyond the initial announcement of "lesbian subway romance" and let me tell you, if you don't know what it is about yet, please consider going in blind and allow this book to take you on an absolutely amazing adventure.
I've been in a major reading slump since September 2020, and I finished this whole book in two days. My crops are watered, my skin is clear. Thank you for the beautiful story, Casey.
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
5.0
this was an incredible read and a fantastic emotional journey. i’ll be rereading this one many times, i think.