Hi there, my name is Michi! Welcome to my cozy corner of the internet, Soleil Library. I am an avid reader, writer, and book reviewer. On this blog, you'll find me raving about the books I love—and the ones I don't. Head over to my writing blog, Soleil Projects, for updates on my interactive novel and other WIPs.
“Of course I’ll hurt you. Of course you’ll hurt me. Of course we will hurt each other. But this is the very condition of existence. To become spring, means accepting the risk of winter. To become presence, means accepting the risk of absence”
Book Review: To Get to the Other Side by Kelly Ohlert
Trixie isn’t exactly sure what she was thinking when she stopped her car in the middle of downtown Chicago, scooped up a chicken struggling to cross the road, and drove off… but she does know that she has to find a new home for herself and her new feathered friend. The landlord at her apartment doesn’t allow pets and has caught Trixie in one too many pet-smuggling attempts in the past.
Bear likes his quiet life with his close-knit family, who own a flower business, but he’s in for a rude awakening when his meddlesome sisters post an ad to rent the spare room in his simple home, without asking his permission. Still, when Trixie responds to the ad, he agrees to let her move in, despite immediate worries about keeping things platonic.
Determined to keep her new room, befriend Bear, and give her rescue chicken the care she deserves, Trixie fights to keep her walls up and resist her romantic feelings for Bear. However, it’s not long before the pair’s proximity and chicken parenting ignite flames that have Trixie and Bear testing the boundaries of their platonic ground rules. They have to figure out how to save a family business, pay for mounting vet bills, and navigate their own emotional baggage if they want to find the love that they all deserve.
1/5 ★
Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Kelly Ohlert for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is just not for me. The writing and characters fall flat, each love interest has a max of two personality traits, the plot doesn't make any sense, and there is a concerning amount of misogyny sprinkled in. Additionally, many aspects of the story seem more suited for a YA romance novel than adult, such as the "cute" pet names and replacement swear words.
The main character is a "not like other girls" girl, who for some reason decides to go into debt over a chicken which is basically the entire plot. Then, big, buff Bear comes in and insta-love occurs. Why do they like each other? Where is the chemistry? I don't know. Bear also gets so horny basically anytime Trixie breathes that it borders on being both ridiculous and concerning.
I can tell what the author was going for--unique characters, an interesting plot, and lots of sexual tension. Unfortunately, it was not executed well and, as it is now, I can't say I recommend this book.
At the heart of an ancient prophecy is young Lucas, who has the sole power to save two medieval kingdoms from destruction . . . but will he discover this ultimate secret before it’s too late?
Lucas has been raised as a blacksmith’s son; an outsider ostracized by the other village children. One night at a nearby monastery, a mysterious black stone whispers a haunting premonition to Lucas. When his father is murdered, the monks take Lucas in, convinced he is an extraordinary hero foretold by destiny. However, a restless Lucas runs off to join a circus where he draws the attention of the powerful King Itan, who believes Lucas is one of “the chosen”—a group of boys who are descendants of great warriors. The king will stop at nothing to compel Lucas to join his chosen army, all while the soldiers who killed Lucas's father are closing in. Before long, Lucas is embroiled in a plot to defeat the king while an unseen enemy begins planning to bring the young man down before he learns of his remarkable power.
3/5 ★
Thank you to NetGalley, Greenleaf Book Group Press, and L. Waithman for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Blood Ties was an enjoyable read. I would probably consider it aimed more towards middle grade readers than young adult, however I think it is suitable for all ages. I loved following the main character, Lucas, on his adventure to pursue his destiny as well as seeing how he grew and changed overtime based on the obstacles he faced. There were a lot of interesting aspects of the world as well, but part of me wishes they were expanded on more.
Other than the worldbuilding, the main reason for my somewhat lower rating is that I had this nagging feeling while I was reading that I was simply being dragged along for the ride. The book covers a lot of different events but I never felt as invested in the plot or the characters as I wanted to. I still enjoyed my read but the sense of immersion I tend to look for just wasn't there.
Ophelia Rojas knows what she likes: her best friends, Cuban food, rose-gardening, and boys - way too many boys. Her friends and parents make fun of her endless stream of crushes, but Ophelia is a romantic at heart. She couldn't change, even if she wanted to.
So when she finds herself thinking more about cute, quiet Talia Sanchez than the loss of a perfect prom with her ex-boyfriend, seeds of doubt take root in Ophelia's firm image of herself. Add to that the impending end of high school and the fracturing of her once-solid friend group, and things are spiraling a little out of control. But the course of love--and sexuality--never did run smooth. As her secrets begin to unravel, Ophelia must make a choice between clinging to the fantasy version of herself she's always imagined or upending everyone's expectations to rediscover who she really is, after all.
4/5 ★
This book made my little queer heart so happy. I loved following Ophelia on her journey of self-discovery. It wasn't only her journey I was interested in either--many of the other characters grew as people as well and it was so heart-warming.
I really appreciated the realness of Ophelia After All. Nothing was immediately solved and wrapped in a nice little bow. Even some resolutions were messy and left open-ended but that's just how life works, especially in high school. Every character had flaws true to being a teenager, whether that be not knowing how to handle your emotions, being selfish, or having a weak sense of identity. No one was really the "good guy" all of the time and I think that is incredibly realistic because, when you're young, you're really just trying to navigate life and figure things out for yourself and sometimes that leads to you doing things you might not be proud of. But those things help you grow.
I think this book contains so many important life lessons for teens, whether they are queer themselves or straight. It tackles topics like being true to yourself, not being afraid of change, being independent and not centering your entire life around other people... I definitely recommend this read to anyone who is struggling with any of those things.
@perseusnet ··– q u e s t # 1 0, badass females
· · · annabeth chase
The first lesson every child of Athena learned: Mom was the best at everything, and you should never, ever suggest otherwise.
When a best friend’s wedding presents a second chance for a recovering drug addict to regain the trust of his first and only love, will his new dedication to sobriety be enough to convince her that this time things could be different?
Matty Arvali fell in love with Keelie Santiago thirteen years ago. The two of them were inseparable, until Matty’s oxycodone addiction chiseled the bond they shared and left their relationship in shambles. As Matty descended further into his addiction, Keelie is forced to sever ties with him to save herself from his destruction.
Now, after two years filled with regret, Matty craves the life he used to have more than he craves the pills that destroyed it. When his best friend’s wedding presents a second chance to regain Keelie’s trust, can Matty stay out of his head and away from pills long enough to win her back?
Charming, witty, and uplifting, Don’t Overthink This is a love story lost in the tangles of addiction, searching for the escape that might finally lead to happily-ever-after.
5/5 ★
Content Warnings:
Alcoholism, drug abuse, mentions of suicide, suicidal thoughts, graphic depictions of mental health issues, sexual assault, coercion, infidelity
This book definitely covers a darker subject matter. It is mentioned in the summary but be warned going into this that the heavier topics aren’t just glanced over. The brutal reality of addiction and the path to recovery are the main focus of this story, not the second-chance romance.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Foxglove Publishing, and Kelly Piazza for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
To preface: I read this in one straight shot, from 11 pm to 3 am, despite knowing I have to get up for work at 8 in the morning. I think that says more than enough about how much I enjoyed Don't Overthink This.
As someone currently pursuing an M.A. in psychology, I went into this book hoping to see a realistic portrayal of addiction and that’s exactly what I found. Piazza doesn’t glamorize it—it’s shown to be something raw and ugly that ruins lives. And that is exactly what happens to the main character, Matty. Seeing his battle with addiction from inside of his head was eye-opening. It shows you how the disease affects your brain and makes you blind to what is right in front of you: how wonderful your life is and how many people love you. The portrayal of other mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder, was also executed well.
A part of the story I really love is the way that flashbacks intertwine with the present. It simultaneously broke my heart and made me root for Matty’s sobriety more than I already was. I wanted him and Keelie to get back together, not just for his sake but for hers. I love that Piazza makes sure to also highlight how hard it is to love an addict and what that side of things looks like.
Seeing Matty fight his addiction and regain control over his life made me so happy. I almost cried tears of joy at the scene where he flushes his last pill down the toilet. Every time he recognized his destructive behaviors and was able to change them, the little cheerleaders in my head went wild. And then seeing him patch up his relationships, not just with Keelie, but with everyone else in his life... It was so heartwarming.
So yes, this book is a second chance romance. But it is also so, so much more than that.
P.S. I also have to say that I feel like I learned a lot from Adam, the therapist friend of Chris’ that Matty goes to see. I hope I can make my clients feel that comfortable someday. Also, my Italian heart was really happy to see all the Italian included in the story!
@asiansofliterature event 1: quotes — juliette cai
“these violent delights have violent ends,” juliette whispered to herself. she tilted her head up to the clouds, to the light sea breeze blowing in from the bund and stinging her nose with salt. “you have always known this.”
It’s the late postgenomic era and the loss of habitable landmass has led to severe limits on human birth. In the drive for species perfection, fewer and fewer can breed, and the long-simmering tension between the reproductive ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ is coming to the boil. A young woman’s body is found, and Detective Cooper-Clark (Coop to his friends) thinks it a routine case: yet another victim of the ‘red-dirt cocktail’ of drugs, disease and despair. But when he discovers the female had recently miscarried an illegal pregnancy, the case turns anything but routine. Convinced the lost baby is the key to the murder, Coop finds himself sucked into the dirty waters of state-sponsored eugenics and to the heart of an existential struggle for control over human reproduction.
3/5 ★
Thank you to NetGalley, The Book Guild, and C.A. Lupton for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Red Dirt Girl has a very intriguing premise and the prologue got me invested from the get-go. Genetic experimentation and it's dystopian possibilities have always been an area of interest for me. The world Lupton created is dark and futuristic. I love the grittiness of it all, with the book having an almost noir feel at times.
However, the first half of the book moves painstakingly slow. If this wasn't received as an ARC, I might have DNFed which would have been a shame because the second half of the book really picks up and the mystery is enthralling.
I also have to say I didn't really feel connected to any of the characters. Even characters I got backstory for still fell flat. I feel like I couldn't truly get a grasp of any of their personalities. It may have been due to the style of the book--I feel like things were written a bit impersonally for the grungy aesthetic.
Overall, the book had a few shortcomings, but had enough positive elements that I ended up enjoying my read. I'll be interested to see what else C.A. Lupton writes in the future.
In the world of Elipsom, the ability to Call, or summon objects, is a coveted, crucial skill, revered among its people as both a powerful tool and an essential way to sustain life. But despite an elite family history, a phenom for an older sister, a best friend who is set to join the Council of Callers, and his mother's steely insistence that he learn to Call, Quin doesn't have the gift—an embarrassment made worse when his mother gets his sister to cheat for him on his Calling exam. But everything changes in a moment of frustration when Quin, instead of summoning an object, makes something disappear. And what's more, he quickly discovers that the objects Callers bring into their world aren't conjured at all but are whisked away from another world and a people who for years have had their lives slowly stolen from them. Now Quin must team up with Allie, a girl who's determined to stop this unfair practice, and decide whether he should remain loyal to his family or betray them—and save the world.
4/5 ★
Thank you to NetGalley, Chronicle Books, and Kiah Thomas for the eARC copy of this book! Disclaimer: The version I read was an uncorrected proof.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Callers; I read it in one sitting. It reminded me of The Giver as both books have that magical, dystopian vibe and convey important messages and themes. Despite being a middle-grade read, I think people of all ages can relate to and enjoy this book. The world, creatures, and magic system are really interesting and the main character, Quin, is easy to connect with.
Quin deals with problems that I think many of us have in our own lives. He is struggling with the weight of his family's expectations and the feeling that he doesn't belong. He also finds out that his mother has been lying to him and has been a key player in the destruction of another land. Throughout the book, he finds his own calling in life--not the actual Calling--and begins righting the wrongs of his family.
The overarching theme of colonialism and it's negative impacts is also incredibly important and I love to see it being addressed in a middle-grade novel. While younger children might not completely understand, the lesson still shines through--stealing anything from anyone is wrong and other people should not be harmed for your own benefit.
The one shortcoming is that I there wasn't as much of a resolution as I wanted/expected in the end, but I think the book still accomplished it's purpose and the messages were conveyed well despite that.
Overall, this was a great read and I will definitely be recommending it to my friends and colleagues who teach so that they can include it in their classroom libraries.
"Orla wasn't wrong, of course. But what she didn't realize about Blue and her boys was that they were all in love with one another. She was no less obsessed with them than they were with her, or one another, analyzing every conversation and gesture, drawing out every joke into a longer and longer running gag, spending each moment either with one another or thinking about when next they would be with one another. Blue was perfectly aware that it was possible to have a friendship that wasn't all-encompassing, that wasn't blinding, deafening, maddening, quickening. It was just that now that she'd had this kind, she didn't want the other.”
vaporwave
stormborns
origamiaround
pixelskylines
