Tag: ARC

REVIEW – The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

Aimeeeliz

{Available March 24, 2020} There are eleven million undocumented immigrants in our country. In our communities. They could be our neighbors, coworkers or classmates. We interact with them at restaurants and stores. They give everything they have to our country and receive so little in return. This is the legacy of our country and it’s infuriating. This is also nothing new, but it’s an especially hot political topic at the current moment.

From a writing standpoint, this book is good. Villavicencio is a solid writer with a knack for getting straight to the point. This book meanders at times, but everything is important and supportive of the overarching narrative.

Villavicencio isn’t just a writer, she’s a storyteller. She talks a lot about how she basically adopts the people she talks to – she pours her heart and soul into these relationships and tells their stories with such care. She doesn’t gloss over anything. The people portrayed in this book are REAL (of course) and their personalities leap off of the page. They’re angry. They’re grateful. They’re hurt and hurting. They’re funny and fun and loving. They’re weird and they’re interesting. They’re people (yeah, duh). They aren’t a “faceless brown mass” (to borrow words from a recently controversial author…)

They’re all different, with different lives and different experiences. Some have had more luck than others. Some have faced more hardships or heartbreak than others. But they do share the trauma of being undocumented in the United States. The fear of deportation. The lack of legal support when they are taken advantage of. Each section of this book focuses on a different city in the United States and I thought the chapters on Cleveland and Flint to be the most impactful (keep in mind I am from Ohio, in a city that’s about a 20-minute drive to the Michigan border, so these chapters were bound to feel more tangible to me).

Ultimately, my words and thoughts aren’t what matters here. It boils down to this – read this book. Read other books like this book. Gain some perspective from people who are not like you. Learn about the experiences of others (especially of marginalized groups). LEARN. GROW. Be better. Do better. Most importantly – LISTEN. Don’t listen (or read) to respond or discuss. Listen (and read) to learn. To hear. To bear witness to their lives and their stories.

Thank you Random House/One World for the NetGalley ARC.

REVIEW – Unknown 9: Genesis by Layton Green

Aimeeeliz

{Available March 13, 2020}

Genesis is first in a book series that will eventually tie in to the Unknown 9 universe, featuring movies, podcasts, video games and more.

The book is reminiscent of The DaVinci Code (or the National Treasure movies). It combines a cat-and-mouse chase that spans the globe with a cult-y secret society. Genesis features dual timelines – most of the book takes place in the present, with snippets of the past (the mid- to late-1930s, for what it’s worth).

It held my attention for the majority of the book. However, precious little is actually revealed (due mostly in part to the fact that this is merely the first of a series, so they can’t just show their hand in book one). If you don’t mind dealing with a cliffhanger for a while (I think book two is due for release in the fall of 2020?) this is a relatively fun read.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Murder Makes Scents by Christin Brecher

Aimeeeliz

Murder Makes Scents kicks off in Paris (how fun!) Candlemaker and scent enthusiast Stella is attending a conference with her globe-trotting perfumer mother, Millie. Their trip ends on a sour note when a man is murdered on the last day of the conference (right before Millie is due to give her talk).

When they return to Nantucket, they quickly realize that someone involved in the murder in Paris has followed them, and their lives could be in danger. Has Millie stolen a top-secret perfume vial? Will Stella be able to figure out the mystery before it’s too late?

This was surprisingly elaborate for a cozy – and so fun to read! I loved Stella’s shop, the Wick & Flame, and Nantucket is the perfect setting for a book in this genre. It’s a relatively new series (I have book one on my tbr shelf!) and offers up exactly what you love and expect from a cozy.

Thank you Kensington Books for the ARC!

REVIEW – Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen

Aimeeeliz

{Available March 3, 2020} Please See Us is an absolutely breathtaking debut novel. More of a mystery than a thriller, we follow two main characters in Atlantic City – a teenage psychic struggling to make ends meet and a young woman who has moved back home following a traumatic personal event.

Mullen absolutely NAILS the atmosphere here. I could feel the summer heat and humidity. I could see the rundown and condemned parts of the city – everything felt dull and gray and gritty. The seedy, faded casinos and motels just add to the overall icky and hopeless feeling of this book, which is a testament to the quality of the writing. There is some REALLY good writing here.

I love how Mullen examines the different types of women who end up as victims throughout the story. They come from different backgrounds. They have different thoughts and feelings. Each has a personal journey that led them to Atlantic City and, ultimately, to their deaths. The chapters that focus on the “Janes” are some of the best, and some of the hardest to read. After one towards the end, I found myself needing to pause for a moment before diving back in to the rest of the story.

There are some DARK themes explored here (I mean, besides the obvious…) but every piece feels absolutely necessary to the story.

Thank you Gallery Books for sending me this ARC!

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Death by Chocolate Frosted Doughnut by Sarah Graves

Aimeeeliz

{Available February 25, 2020} Jake and Ellie are co-owners of The Chocolate Moose, a chocolate-themed bakery in Eastport, Maine. When a visiting celebrity food writer and TV star ends up dead in their cellar, it’s a race against time to solve the murder before Jake is arrested.

This was a fun little cozy. I loved the setting – the town was wonderful and I would love to visit The Chocolate Moose for some delicious baked goodies! The murder mystery kept me guessing for the majority of the book. Graves is great at twisting a story so you’re not quite sure who to suspect.

Compared to other cozies i’ve read in recent months, this one was FUNNY. I laughed out loud quite a few times and I really appreciated the humor woven throughout the story.

I did think the final conflict was a bit over-complicated and a little drawn out, but the overall book was still very enjoyable. I would love to pick up more books in this series!

Thank you Kensington Books for the free ARC.

REVIEW – Woman on the Edge by Samantha M. Bailey

Aimeeeliz

{Available March 3, 2020} Woman on the Edge is a twisty thriller that is actually incredibly sad. This book kept me guessing until the last few pages! Our main character, Morgan, is kind of an idiot at times (she puts herself in some dangerous situations!) but she’s also very brave and selfless.

The chapters from Nicole’s perspective become more disorienting and sad as the book progresses. You can’t help but feel for her, and for sweet baby Quinn.

This is a quick read, perfect for devouring in a sitting or two. I would recommend having something light on hand as a follow up – although it’s a pretty standard thriller, it’s likely to leave the reader slightly emotional at the end.

I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you Simon & Schuster for the NetGalley ARC.

REVIEW – Unfollow Me by Charlotte Duckworth

Aimeeeliz

{Available March 10, 2020} Unfollow Me starts with a chilling email to Violet, a social media influencer with more than one million subscribers on YouTube.

We learn early on (from the perspective of our two main characters – Lily and Yvonne) that Violet’s social media presence has inexplicably vanished, and no one knows where she is or if she’s okay.

These characters are OBSESSED with Violet – a woman they’ve never met, but think they know due to her constant vlogs of her daily life. It’s very relevant to society today, how many “influencers” have turned into micro-celebrities. They have fans, they have haters, they might even have stalkers. It also gave me MTV Diary vibes (throwback! Remember: you think you know, but you have no idea?!)

Details are revealed as the story progresses, and we do get chapters from Violet’s husband’s point of view as well. However, the majority of the book is confusing (not necessarily in a bad way). I found myself wanting to read more just so I could get some answers and find out wtf is going on.

Unfortunately, the ending was a little lackluster for me. I still enjoyed the book, and enjoyed the perspective it gave on “influencer” culture!

Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the NetGalley ARC.

REVIEW – The Other People by C.J. Tudor

Aimeeeliz

Let’s get one thing out of the way first. This is my first C.J. Tudor book – and it will NOT be my last, not by a long shot. A TL;DR summary? It’s like if Stephen King wrote The Face on the Milk Carton.

What can I say about The Other People? Go in as blind as possible. I had no clue what was going on in this book while I was reading it, and it was such an enjoyable ride! It’s a little disorienting (especially at first). It’s super atmospheric, and honestly a little depressing. The whole vibe just felt very gloomy and hopeless and sad.

The writing – wow. There are a lot of great little snippets and passages throughout this book that are so reminiscent of some of Stephen King’s best bits from his best books. C.J. Tudor NAILS it. If you’re a King fan, you’ll probably be a Tudor fan. (and vice versa! Like the Tudor books you’ve read? Pick up some King!)

This is the first book in quite some time where I have had theories while reading. Not just vague ideas of where it was headed, but straight up THEORIES like pinned to a corkboard and connected with a string.

I had a friend ask me while I was reading this, “It’s supernatural, right?” Ummm…well. I’m not going to tell you. Maybe? Maybe not? Trust me, it’s better if you just don’t know.

There are a lot of connections in this book. A LOT. Some are easy to deduce. Others? Not so much. Honestly – just stop reading my review and go read this book.

Thank you Ballantine Books and Goodreads for the giveaway win.

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Aimeeeliz

{Available February 25, 2020} Coconut Layer Cake Murder continues the Hannah Swensen cozy mystery series. This is the most recent book, but only my second that I’ve read.

The mystery is good and interesting. However, our characters spend a LOT of time drinking coffee and trying new cookies (this is fine – the book is pure fluff and a great palate cleanser. But it does get a bit repetitive).

I would recommend these if you’re already interested in the cozy genre, and need something super light (and a little silly). If you’re dipping your toe into the genre for the first time, I would suggest starting somewhere else.

Thank you Kensington Books for the ARC!

REVIEW – Rust: A Memoir of Steel and Grit by Eliese Colette Goldbach

Aimeeeliz

{Available March 3, 2020} There’s a lot to say about Rust – this story hooked me right from the beginning. Goldbach is from Cleveland, a resilient city with an industrial past (and present, and future).

I connected with a lot in the beginning of this book. Goldbach and I are both graduates of Catholic all-girls high schools. We’re both from cities in northern Ohio (her from the northeast, me from the northwest). Our cities both have strong foundations in industry – hers in steel, mine in glass and cars. Goldbach and I are roughly the same age (I believe she’s a few months older than me).

I’ve never worked in a factory. I’ve never had to and, honestly, have never considered it an option. Reading Goldbach’s account as a woman in her late twenties (at the time) navigating life as an employee in a steel mill was fascinating. I think many of us can agree that when we picture a “factory worker” or a “steelworker” we do not picture a young, college-educated woman. Goldbach’s account dismantled my idea of what a typical factory worker is like (which makes me sound like an idiot, but i’m not afraid to admit I was biased and I was WRONG).

I felt that this book lost its way a bit at times – it meanders from topic to topic, timeline to timeline, with few line or section breaks (but this could be something that is remedied in the finished copy). However, it’s difficult to place a “review” lens on someone’s life experience. There are moments where I forgot I was reading nonfiction (Goldbach is a great writer! And this memoir felt more like a novel sometimes).

This memoir isn’t just about a young woman finding her way in the steel industry. It also focuses heavily on her struggle with mental illness, and is supplemented by observations and events surrounding the 2016 presidential election.

Content warnings: mental illness, rape, discussion of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

Thank you Flatiron Books for the NetGalley ARC.