Book Review: Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

Imogen, Obviously

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Imogen, Obviously 〰️

This book is near perfect, from the cover to the witty dialogue to the self-discovery story that I’m all here for, to great rep. It basically has it all, obviously. The only criticism I have, and it’s a minor nitpick, is that it may be trying a bit too hard to be super “woke,” but otherwise than that, it was awesome.

This book was such a good read. And not only that, I think this is an essential read. Imogen is straight. Or at least she thought she was until she met Tessa. And then there are people like Gretchen who basically believe that because they are part of the LGBTQ+ group, they can dictate someone’s sexuality and say they can or can’t come out later in life. (There are also non-LGBTQ+ people who think this way, but that’s beside the point). The message of this book is clear; no one can tell you when you have to come out. No one can label you. If you are a closeted bi, only liking 1% of girls, then you are still bi if that’s what you identify with, and no one can say otherwise. And if you don’t feel like it’s the right time to come out, then that is okay, too. This is your life, your body, and no one can tell you how and what you feel, even if they are part of the same community as you.

That aside, I loved how all the characters integrated with each other. I found the flirty banter between Imogen and Tesse to be well-written. I laughed a few times. Their relationship, from the start of the book to the end, made me smile. It was never toxic. It was healthy, and I love that. And I love how Lili’s friends accepted Imogen into their lives like she was there all along. I love great friendships in stories. The only toxic person was Gretchen. Gretchen’s feelings were valid but misguided. She doesn’t speak for all queer people just because she is one, even if, in her mind, she can.

This was a cute fluffy read of self-discovery, and I loved it. Reminder, at no point in your life do you have to decide, welp, I thought I was one thing so I guess I have to stay this way. People and feelings change as Imogen learns. You can grow up thinking you’re straight but later learn that maybe you’d instead identify as non-binary or that you’re ace. There is no timeline, no race.

All in all, this is a must-read.

Book review: Five Survive by Holly Jackson

Five Survive

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Five Survive 〰️

I've been waiting to read this book for a while. I had it pre-ordered and everything. I ended up reading Jackson's Good Girl Guide to Murder series first while waiting (loved it so much). And then I read other books in my TBR. But I finally got around to reading it, and it was well worth the wait.

I love love, loved the writing style in this book. Jackson really made it unique and fitting for Red. You could see her past trauma and PTSD over what happened to her in the past and how it still affects her to this day. I know what happened to Red happened years ago, but trauma like this never goes away. I can maybe see how some people may be annoyed with Jackson's writing style in this book, but I personally loved every second of it. (Though now that I think of it, we never did find out what the pattern was in those darn curtains, and I, as well as Red, would love to know, haha).

Because of how this was written, as well as the story premise, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. This book was a real page-turner, and I'm here for it. I never saw anything coming. (Though I'm sure other readers could have. I'm not very perceptive).

However, I will say that only one small thing bothered me. Something the characters should have done but didn't. When Red spilled her secret, and everyone was trying to decide if they should chuck her out of the van, I wondered why they didn't radio the sniper, asking if this was the correct secret and save them all the trouble. I mean, it didn't matter in the end that they didn't do this thing, but I kept screaming at the book because they did it with Oliver and Reyna's secret, and thus they didn't have to leave the van. And yes, Red was the one they were after, but like, you'd think they'd ask the sniper if it was Red who they wanted before voting whether or not to send her out to die. Again, it didn't matter in the end, as it was Red who held the answers they were looking for, but you'd think the group would want to check first before blindly sending her to her death.

Aside from that, the pacing was great, the characters worked well off each other, and I loved learning about everyone's secrets and Red's past. It was a compelling read, and I highly recommend it. I think now that I've read the Good Girl's Guide to Murder series and this book and loved them all, I think Jackson will now be a new auto-buy for me.

Book Review: Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

Ready Player Two

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Ready Player Two 〰️

First off, I loved this book. Maybe even more than the first. The stakes were so much more real in this book. (I mean, they were high in the first, and we did see characters die, but this was global). And yes, there was still a lot of info dumping, just like in the first book, but it felt different this time. Handled better, maybe? Most of it was necessary for the story, and I found it to be written in a way that helped and didn't bog the story down, unlike most info dumps.

I also found the writing improved. There were many more character interactions and involvement with the environment than simply relaying backstory and worldbuilding. I think that is another reason I loved this story more than the first.

Don't get me wrong, I still highly enjoyed the first book. I just think this is a worthy sequel, and it ended in the best way possible. The first book had a nice ending and could have stopped there, but it was still able to have more story. And with this second book, it ended on a high note. Still not the perfect ending for our characters but the best we could get as readers. If Cline writes a third book, it would only be a cash grab and ruin this good ending. (I mean, this could still be a cash grab, but it works, so I'm not mad).

Would I ever log onto the OASIS if one were to come into our world? Probably. Would I log onto the OASIS with an ONI? Absolutely. Mostly because I could live with my cat and our happy memories forever. But I do worry I'd never leave, so I guess it's for the best we don't have this technology around at this current moment in time.

If you enjoyed the first book, are a true (or even a small) geek at heart, and enjoy nostalgia, then this book is for you.

Book Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One

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Ready Player One 〰️

I saw the movie when it came out and had no idea it was based on a book. Years later, I finally snagged a copy of the book to see if it was as good as the movie. Normally I always say the book is better than the movie, but in this case, they are both equally as good. Because while the film has the same plot premise as the book (gunters, the sixers, the hunt for the egg contest, and characters, to name a few), how everything ends up happening is entirely different. Like, vastly different. And I love that. It's like I can experience both forms of media for the first time while still getting the same content if that makes sense.

Now I haven't read any reviews of the book, but I get the feeling many people would say this book is a HUGE info dump for the entire book. And it is. But it's written in a way that doesn't feel that way, at least to me. I loved learning about all the cool things mentioned in this book. I loved learning how our not-so-distant future became the way it is. (And honestly, I can see it happening, the way our course is heading).

Info dumping aside, this book was a blast to read. The concept was super interesting, and as a huge nerd and gamer myself, I loved reading all the references and learning more about them. It was cool to see Wade start from nothing and build his avatar up. He's smart and probably has a photographic memory for all the stuff he's memorized. I can barely remember my own age, let alone all the things he's learned in order to win the contest.

If you're a fan of YA dystopian books, 80s nostalgia, Japanese media, old-school games, and just general geekery like myself, this book is for you. And I also recommend the movie, as it's also its own experience.

Book Review: The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

The Upside of Unrequited

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The Upside of Unrequited 〰️

This book was a bit of a hit-and-miss for me. I didn't love it like the first book, but I didn't dislike it. It was just okay. It did get really good near the end, but I wasn't super into the start. That's not because the writing wasn't good, it was. It just didn't vibe with me, I guess.

I hate that Albertalli was trying to convince the readers there was a love triangle between Will and Reid. Mainly because it felt like she was trying to convince us that Will was even an option, Molly barely interacted with him and only thought about him briefly when she was with Reid saying things like she should be thinking about WIll and not Reid. There was zero chemistry between Molloy and Will from their first interaction, yet most of the book tried to convince us she was super into in and that he was an option as a love interest. From her first interaction with Reid, they had chemistry and interacted more. It was clear he was the love interest, and Will was just there for lame reasons.

Aside from that, I love all of the representation in this story. We've got multiple people on the LGBTQ+ spectrum (bi, lesbian, pan, gay). We've got multicultural characters (yay, Mina! She was my favourite character and not because we share the same name). We've got different religions and friend groups. We even got some plus size rep. Love all of that.

However, I'm not sure I'd call this a companion to Love, Simon. Besides having Abby as a side character and a few Simon name drops (and one cameo), there wasn't much that made this a cameo. It was its own book, and I feel it should stand alone. This is not how you'd write a companion. But at least there was more of Abby in the world, so I can't fault the book for that.

Was this my favourite Albertalli book? No. But would I still recommend it? Absolutely. When the book does cute moments, it does them right, and they hit hard. I'm a sucker for cute moments. And I like Molly's voice. She came across well on the page and was fun to read.

Book Review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

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Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda 〰️

This book is just so wholesome and adorable and filled with cute moments that made me actually laugh out loud. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I found it extremely relatable. I thankfully never experience any homophobia with my family and friends, so I can't relate to those aspects, but I can for sure relate to the nerves of coming out for the first time. And the second. And every time after that. (Because sadly coming out is never a one and done thing).

The emails between Simon and Blue were just too cute. I had a similar relationship with someone at that age so it was all very realistic to me. The dialogue in both emails and spoken was great.

I do feel like Nick could have had a bigger role, however. He wasn't in the story much other than to be the straight love interest to a secondary character. I think he was mentioned more than actually present in the story. I would have loved to see Simon hang out with his friends more. He talks about them a lot but he mostly pines over Blue.

Overall, this is a great debut by Albertalli. I've read her later books and love those, and when I realized I haven't read her earlier works (or seen the movie!) I knew I had to get on that. It didn't disappoint.

If you love a cute YA romance with witty banter and a coming out story, this is a great book for you. And if you really loved it, they made a movie! Love, Simon. (I'm glad they made the title shorter because this one was a mouthful). I haven't seen the movie (yet!) but I will soon!

Book Review: Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales

Never Ever Getting Back

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Never Ever Getting Back 〰️

Actual rating 4.5 stars.

I loved this book, but I did think it had some flaws. Nothing major. I loved the writing. Gonzales never disappoints with her writing and great characters. And having the setting be a reality TV show was super cool. I felt like I was finally let in on the behind-the-scenes of one of these shows, which was cool. A lot of research went into making this seem legit. (Unless Gonzales was on a reality show and wrote from experience. I don't think so, but I don't feel like looking that up).

As always, I love an excellent sapphic romance. I'm all here for that. It's why I picked up this book. And once Maya and Skye finally got together, it was adorably magical.

However, I feel like the romance didn't build up very well. They were both so intent on their Jordy revenge, with just a few small lines here and there, that they might be attracted to each other as more than friends. (I love good enemies to lovers trope, and this one was top-notch). But, they went from friends who may think a cute thought about the other on occasion to full-out making out every chance they get and falling madly in love super fast. I love their relationship, don't get me wrong, but it happened too fast, or rather, it didn't build properly. But if you put that bit aside, there was still chemistry between the two leads, so it still worked out great in the end. (I shipped them the entire time and wanted more).

I will admit I didn't entirely like Maya at first and would have preferred having more POVs from Skye's perspective, but she grew on me. And so did the story. It became much more than a revenge plot. And I love the friendship between all the girls on the show. Each with a unique story and was fun to read, despite how short or long some of them lasted.

All in all, this was still a fantastic read, and if you love the author's previous books, you'll also love this one.

Book Review: And They Lived... by Steven Salvatore

And They Lived...

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And They Lived... 〰️

I cannot praise this book enough. This story was exactly the type of story I love to write. I see a lot of my novel, SOUTH, in this story, from the animation to self-discovery journeys, super cute moments, the real hardships of life and mental health, and excellent characters. This story has it all; it was an honour to read.

I love how healthy all the relationships are in this novel. It's nice to read. And not only are the main characters dynamic and exciting to read, but the side characters are just as flesh-out and entertaining. (And OMG, I love Benny and Rae so much. Can we get a book on them just being the best of friends?)

And who doesn't love a good self-discovery story? I know I do. I've written one! We've got self-discovery with love, a journey of trying to love your body, and a journey of self-discovery regarding gender. And it's all handled very well. (And I'm happy the author included resources for those needing help in the book. There is no shame in seeking help when you need it).

The plot was solid, the cast was perfect, and the ending was *chef's kiss*. I can't recommend this book enough.

The only thing I have negative to say (and this is based on my own experience and is highly nitpicky) is that the animation program Chase attends seems awfully advanced for a first year. I actually went to an art school, studied animation and worked as an animator for years before changing careers. I say this to say that your first year, especially your first month of an animation program, is usually learning about the basics of animation. The program Chase is in and the work he's making sounds more like second-year work rather than first years, let alone the first semester. But maybe animation programs are just different in the US as opposed to Canada, where I went to art school.

That all being said, if you're looking for an excellent queer read, this book is 100% for you.