angieoverbooked's reviews
499 reviews

This was so promising and had a strong start. I love the premise- a tech entrepreneur with an app idea that allows users to plan messages, “one last word,”that will go out after they die. I love the serendipity of her reconnecting with her high school crush who becomes her mentor. I liked the main and side characters. The dialogue and banter were fun. 

But around the halfway point, unnecessary things started happening. And I think it was just too ambitious. There were multiple half baked plot points. If just a few were more fleshed out, this would have been great. But instead of paring them down, it’s like every interesting story idea Park thought of made it in the book. I enjoyed her writing but, unfortunately, I think the plot just got away from itself. 

Quality of Writing 4/5

Pacing 4/5

Plot Development 2/5

Character Development 3/5

Overall Enjoyability 3/5

I like the premise - an ex husband being called in an emergency because he’s still listed as the emergency contact for his ex-wife and this being the catalyst for their reconnecting. I also like the way the plot develops Planes, Trains and Automobiles style. The problem is there wasn’t enough chemistry between the former couple for me to believe there’s any reason why they’d second guess their divorce. Meanwhile, Tom’s current girlfriend whom he’s preparing to propose to is perfectly likable. We’re given no reason to root against her and instead for a reconciliation with Katherine.

This has some cute moments but it’s just not quite the stuff that a second chance romance lover's dreams are made of.

Ratings
Quality of Writing 4/5
Pacing 4/5
Plot Development 3/5
Character Development 3/5
Overall Enjoyability 3/5

Damilare Kuku has secured her spot as one of my new favorite writers.

This story centers around a young woman who announces her plan to get plastic surgery. The reactions from her Nigerian family are dramatic and hilarious. After reading Nearly All The Men in Lagos are Mad, Kuku's short stories collection, I expected this book to be similarly shocking and entertaining. And it was! But Kuku also does a great job at capturing years of body dysmorphia, comparison traps, and the effects of social media images and trends on a young girl's psyche.

There's also a more complex family story that I didn't expect but appreciated. With Temi's announcement as a catalyst, we learn so much about her and the women in her family. Temi's family dynamics and history are told through various perspectives. We begin to understand how all of the women relate to one another. In some ways, it felt like a novel in short stories or connected short stories, which I happen to love. It was an effective way to tell a deeper story and develop the characters.

Yes, this is a book that revolves around a woman's idea that plastic surgery will solve all of her problems. But don't let that make you doubt the incredible storytelling within this premise. I haven't read anything like this, and that's one of my favorite things to experience as a reader. Something fresh and new. I can't wait to see what Kuku does next!

Ratings
Quality of Writing 5/5
Pacing 4/5
Plot Development 5/5
Character Development 5/5
Overall Enjoyability 5/5

This is an extremely vulnerable and beautifully written memoir. Song captures her life experiences and struggles in a way that really pulls you in and enables you to feel her emotions. So much so, that I do caution readers to take care when reading and be mindful of content warnings. 

Very impactful read.

I only wished for a bit more at the end to describe more of the circumstances of her present life. 

Ratings
Quality of Writing 5/5
Value for Intended Audience 5/5
Pacing 4/5
Vulnerability 5/5
Overall Enjoyability 5/5

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

The audiobook is great - but  following the timeline was challenging with this format.
Really enjoyed it overall!

Ratings
Quality of Writing 5/5
Plot Development 4/5
Character Development 4/5
Pacing 4/5
Overall Enjoyment 4/5

There is just something about Danzy Senna’s writing style that does it for me. 

Did I like Maria, the MC? No. Do I normally prefer likeable MCs in contemporary fiction? Yes. (As opposed to thrillers, where I almost always find the characters to be unlikeable but can still get into the story.) 

Still, Senna successfully put me in a trance as I read this story of a biracial (could pass for white) woman in 1990s Brooklyn as she quietly unravels in the most concerning of ways. It’s a book that seems like mostly vibes but there are fascinating moments weaved in that address both self-identity and group-identity. And commentary on cults always interests me so I liked the way that fit into this story because Maria is writing her dissertation on the Jonestown massacre. 

This isn’t a book for everyone but it is for me. I’d previously only read Caucasia by Senna but now I’m going to read the rest of her catalog asap. And I can’t wait for her 2024 release. 

Ratings 
Quality of Writing 5/5 
Pacing 5/5 
Plot Development 3/5 
Character Development 4/5 
Overall Enjoyability 5/5 

This is joining my list of favorite memoirs. I loved every second. 

If you like memoirs and/or stories about women, you should read this book! A specific woman is the focus or inspiration for every chapter. A genius approach. But also, so on brand for Chelsea and not a surprise given the way she always emphasizes the value of her relationships with women (which I know from listening to her podcast, Glamorous Trash: A Celebrity Memoir Podcast). So, for example, while her wedding and love for her husband are detailed in a chapter, the real story is about her bridesmaids. 
 
This memoir is intense and traumatic, insightful and smart, and truly laugh-out-loud funny. Chelsea Devantez should not be telling us a lot of this. But I am glad she did. 

 

Quality of Writing 5/5 
Value for Intended Audience 5/5 
Pacing 5/5 
Vulnerability 5/5 
Overall Enjoyability 5/5