I have to issue every warning ever for this book: suicidal ideation, abuse, death, suicide, toxic relationships, possible animal cruelty, sexual abuse, assault, addiction, animal death, extreme depression, the worst doctor in the history of ever. … I listened to the audiobook narration of My Year of Rest and Relaxation as part of some research I’m doing on storytelling techniques, and because Julia Whelan is a wonderful narrator, especially in first person perspectives. This story is … Continue reading Audiobook Review: My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh →
TW/CW: Discussion of child sexual assault, sexual assault, child abuse. Dear Bitchery, I want to tell you about an incredible public art project and public healing event – The Monument Quilt. It honors and tells the stories of survivors of sexual violence, similar to the AIDS Memorial Quilt. After 5 years of organizing, the entire quilt, made up of 3,000 stories painted and sewn onto red fabric, will blanket the National Mall in Washington DC … Continue reading The Monument Quilt: A Guest Post from Cleo →
CW/TW for mentions of violence, rape, and abuse both in the book and in this review. Phoenix Unbound is a brand new fantasy romance from Grace Draven and the start to a new series. While the world building is fantastic, the pacing greatly affected my reading experience. I also want to warn that I’m going to spoil some elements of this book because some things are integral in discussing my feelings. Also, please keep the … Continue reading Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven →
Much Ado about Magic looks like the perfect beach book. The back cover promises a psychic portrait painter and a “rogue” sea captain. How could I ask for more? Well, I’ll tell you what more I could ask for – a hero who isn’t sexist and the avoidance of racist stereotypes. I made it more or less halfway through (I skimmed a lot) before even the skimming was too much. TW for racism and sexism … Continue reading Much Ado about Magic by Patricia Rice →
TL;DR: this is one of the most hurtful and painfully cruel books I have ever attempted to read. I have serious concerns about readers’ potential experiences with this story, and the harm and hurt it may cause. My notes begin with the following sentence and I stand by it: THIS BOOK IS TOXIC. Please proceed with this review and with this book with extreme caution. TW/CW: fat shaming, disordered eating, and physical and emotional self-harm … Continue reading Good Luck With That by Kristan Higgins →
I tend to have very girdy loins when it comes to dark and twisted fiction, so imagine my surprise when I discovered that The Forgotten Girls was a little too disturbing for me.TW/CW: discussions of sexual abuse and rape. The seventh book in the Louise Rick series can be read as a stand alone and centers around a Danish investigator (Louise Rick) who heads up a Missing Persons Deptartment. When the body of a woman is … Continue reading The Forgotten Girls by Sara Blaedel →
Escort by Skye Warren is about a male prostitute who falls in love with his client. Man, do I hate when that happens. I mean, you’re just there for a night of good fun and then suddenly this sexy dude is in love with you and can’t stop thinking about your freckles, and it’s such a hassle, honestly. Anyway, this is a quick read (or was for me) told entirely in the hero’s first person POV, … Continue reading Escort by Skye Warren →
Tess of the Road is a good book, but not the book I expected. Although there are adventures in the book, for the most part it’s a story about healing and forgiveness. Tess doesn’t even start on the road until page 88 and from then on it’s a long journey consisting of Tess considering her past and how she feels about it. There is some romance in it, but it’s not romance-centric. This book is … Continue reading Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman →
I read Wild (the first book in the Aftershock series, not the book about hiking) because it involves a zookeeper at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Since I have been to that park many, many times, I was curious. This was basically a good novella hiding in a crappy novel. Here are some Trigger Warnings and caveats: If plot lines about infidelity are a no-go for you, don’t go to this book. If you are … Continue reading Wild by Jill Sorenson →
Assassin’s Gambit is a gritty yet glamorous story of seduction, espionage, intrigue, and romance. It has a brainy heroine, a hero with a wooden leg, some amazing clothes, magic, and many rounds of Caturanga, a game similar to chess. It also has a lot of violence, including graphic sexual violence, so readers beware. Trigger warning for rape, blackmail, and violence during sex. Lucien is the Kjallan emperor. He lost a leg in battle and struggles … Continue reading Assassin’s Gambit by Amy Raby →
Unwanted Girl deals with serious topics and yet manages to be a sweet, satisfying romance. It’s quite a balancing act in terms of tone. The hero of Unwanted Girl is Nick Dorsey, the writer of a series of bestselling spy novels of the James Bond type. Nick is also a recovering meth addict. When the book starts, he’s been meth-free for eighteen months, although he still drinks alcohol in moderation (N.B.: most recovery programs do not recommend continuing … Continue reading Unwanted Girl by MK Schiller →
