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I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
If you are boo-booing this book just because of its title…kindly fck off. It is intentionally provocative and I am here for it. To place ‘the mother’ figure on a pedestal is ultimately detrimental to mothers since by idealizing them we cease to see them as real flawed human beings. I’m Glad My Mom Died…
1st pov, 4 STARS, abuse, ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS, actors, Adult, America, AMERICAN AUTHOR, anxiety, biography, body dysmorphia, California, cancer, celebrities, child abuse, CHILDHOOD, coming of age, Contemporary, dark humor, DEATH, DEPRESSION, eating disorders, female authors, film industry, gay side characters, GRIEF, growing up, I'm Glad My Mom Died, illness, Jennette McCurdy, lgbtq+ side, MEMOIR, mental health, mothers & daughters, Nonfiction, OCD, PSYCHIATRISTS & THERAPISTS, published in 2022, read in 2022, Religion, the female malaise, toxic relationships, trauma -
The Break by Katherena Vermette
The Break is a harrowing yet lucidly written intergenerational family saga that examines the repercussions of a horrific act of violence.The book opens with Stella, a young Métis mother, witnessing a violent attack on some land near her house. Although torn, Stella doesn’t rush to the victim’s rescue and calls the police instead. When they…
3 STARS, addiction, Adult, body dysmorphia, BOOK REVIEWS, Booklr, canada, canadian author, different styles (1st/2nd/3rd povs), family, FAMILY SAGA, female authors, ghosts/spirits, grandmothers, indigenous, indigenous author, Katherena Vermette, LITERARY FICTION, MAGICAL REALISM, motherhood, mothers & daughters, My reviews, native american & first nation, Native American & First Nation authors, published in 2016, rape, read in 2022, reading, sexual assault/abuse/rape, social issues, The Break, trauma, violence, violence against women -
Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi
“I thought a polished appearance and stellar behavior would be the passport to belonging. And when I inevitably failed at perfection, I could at least wilfully do everything in my power to be kicked out before anyone left me.” tw: eating disorders Bursting with sharp humor and insight Yolk is a bighearted and profoundly honest…
1st pov, 5 STARS, ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE, America, American, body dysmorphia, BOOK REVIEW, BOOK REVIEWS, Booklr, cancer, Contemporary, contemporary malaise, cultural dissonance, eating disorders, family, favourite authors, female authors, food & cooking, identity, illness, intergenerational, introspective, Korea, Korean, korean american author, Mary H.K. Choi, mental health, migration/immigration, My reviews, NEW ADULT, NEW YORK, published in 2021, re-reads, read in 2021, read in 2022, ROMANCE, sardonic humor, SISTERS, social media, texas, the female malaise, UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE, Yolk, YOUNG ADULT -
As Far as You’ll Take Me by Phil Stamper
“How long does it take to fall in love with someone—hours, days, years?” This was okay but I was kind of expecting something different. At times As Far as You’ll Take Me follows a bit too closely in the footsteps of other YA coming-of-age books. There also seems to be a rising trend for YA…
1st pov, 3 STARS, America, American, AMERICAN AUTHOR, ANGST, anxiety, bad love, body dysmorphia, Christianity, coming of age, drama, eating disorders, england, Florence, friendships, gay, insta love, Italy, lgbtq+, LGBTQ+ Author, LONDON, m/m, male authors, mental health, music, musicians, published in 2021, queer, read in 2021, Religion, ROMANCE, Summer, summer reads, toxic relationships, travel, Wales, YOUNG ADULT -
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder
(heads up: this review contains mentions of eating disorders and body dysmorphia as well as explicit language) While I doubt that Milk Fed will win many awards, I sure hope that it wins the Bad Sex in Fiction Award. It 100% deserves to. “Was it real freedom? Unlikely. But my rituals kept me skinny, and…
1st pov, 2.5 STARS, Adult, ALIENATION, all of the trigger warnings, America, American, AMERICAN AUTHOR, bad love, BISEXUAL/PANSEXUAL, body dysmorphia, California, Contemporary, contemporary malaise, dark humor, eating disorders, f/f, female authors, film industry, graphic content, illness, incest-y, introspective, Jewish, lgbtq+, los angeles, Melissa Broder, mental health, Milk Fed, mumblecore, navel gazing, netgalley, published in 2021, queer, read in 2020, Religion, sapphic, sex, toxic relationships, trigger warning, work culture -
Real Life by Brandon Taylor — book review
“Is it into this culture that he is to emerge? Into the narrow, dark water of real life?” It had been awhile since I finished a book in one day or since I read a book that made me cry…but once I started Real Life I simply couldn’t stop, even if what I was reading…
3rd pov, 4.25 stars, academia, Adult, ALIENATION, America, American, anxiety, bad love, Black & Black heritage authors, body dysmorphia, Brandon Taylor, campus, class, cliques, cold tone, Contemporary, favourite authors, gay, GRIEF, horrible friends, labs, lgbtq+, LGBTQ+ Author, LITERARY FICTION, loneliness, m/m, mental health, midwest, published in 2020, queer, RACE, read in 2020, Real Life, science, sex, sexual assault/abuse/rape, SEXUALITY, toxic relationships, trauma, UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE