"The Sunlight Pilgrims"

 The Sunlight Pilgrims

Written by Jenni Fagan

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

The Sunlight Pilgrims creates an eerie and uncomfortable year 2020 as the world breaks into crisis, as global warming allows for the development of an extinctive Ice Age. Reading this novel in April 2021, after a year of isolation, social distancing, and staying safe from a viral pandemic, feels bizarre. Naturally, the cause of the deaths of many humans on Earth is completely different, but the parallels are haunting.

Fagan tells the tales of Constance, Stella, and Dylan as they prepare for the end of the world as they knew it. Constance and her transgender daughter, Stella, live in a caravan park, wrapped up in the community that they are so determined to protect. Dylan chooses to visit, to the site where his mother had left him a caravan in her will. Dylan and Constance find consolation in each other, while Stella is desperate to keep her life as comfortable as it once was.

Unfortunately, this novel was not one for me. I found many of the elements to seem unbelievable, such as the temperature being below 0 degrees Fahrenheit and it raining. A few of the apocalyptic elements were interesting, such as the animals freezing to death, the freezing temperature preventative measures, and different perspectives of those who are living on this Earth.

Additionally, I found the dialogue style to be distracting and simple, where I prefer to have it be much more of an important part of storytelling. Also, I just found the plot to be very small and limited, when I felt that this novel had much more potential that Fagan could have built upon. The novel turned out to be more of a character study than a plot revolving around the end of time, when I prefer equal portions. I personally did not feel connected or sympathetic to the characters, because we hardly know deep detail of each. I felt that the characters we read were not likeable and just idiotic. I feel I can no longer enjoy immature, adolescent characters like Stella, who repeatedly made dangerous choices and made herself more of a nuisance in each chapter. I liked the character, Dylan, who reminded me of stoic but caring Joel from the The Last of Us video games. I felt that if the story only followed him, I would have enjoyed it more.

I did enjoy learning of some of the consequences of the global warming, but I just felt that we could have explored that a little more. One of my favorite novels of all time is Station Eleven. In SE¸ we see what the world like before a virus hits, during the first arrival and first deaths, and the aftermath. I felt that in The Sunlight Pilgrims we did not see how high the stakes were. Only seeing the beginning of the end, I do not feel as satisfied with the novel as I had initially anticipated. Only chapter 34 of 38 do we even see society locking down buildings, people struggling to find food, and riots. Also, that information is provided in a news broadcast, not experienced by our characters. Due to my lack of connection to the characters, I do not even feel I need to know if they survive. The book is branded as a story of courage and resilience, and I do not feel that at all. The climax incorporates moments of bravery, but I felt like they came all too late. My interest in the well-being of these characters expired eons ago.

I felt so thoroughly disappointed in this novel. If you enjoy apocalyptic or dystopian fiction, I would rather point you in the direction of Station Eleven, I am Legend, After the Flood, or Never Let Me Go.

I rated this book at two out of five stars.

Thank you to Hogarth Press for sending along a finished copy for reviewing purposes.

"Half a World Away" Book Review

 Half a World Away

Written by Mike Gayle

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

 

Half a World Away happens to be a novel that I had looked forward to for months. After misplacing my secondhand copy, a day after finding it, I longed to find it once more. I returned back to the United States after staying with my fiancé for a good majority of 2020, I found a new hardcover copy of it on my bookshelf, thanks to the lovely publisher.

Half a World Away was written from two perspectives: of tired, overwhelmed single mother Kerry and her long-lost brother, Noah, who is struggling with an impending divorce. The two characters were separated by the English foster care system. Kerry grew up in a home and eventually aged out of the system, while Noah was adopted by a kind, large family. Although they were not connected until mid-adulthood, Kerry has written to Noah so they can meet and become reacquainted.

The premise itself is not one that I would typically be drawn to, but the allure of the long-lost novel and the long-lost plot intrigued me. I personally felt that the premise itself was executed well, but my enjoyment while reading was lackluster. First and foremost, Mike Gayle’s writing style is extremely lengthy and excessive. Nearly every paragraph has at least four lines, and at one point I counted one paragraph to be twenty-three lines long. The characters ramble within their own thoughts, and the dialogue is just as ridiculous. Kerry and Noah’s dialogue, as well as other characters, is presented more as a monologue or a speech, as if each paragraph is meant to be a groundbreaking, plot-revealing moment. I felt that most of the time, many chunks of dialogue were unnecessary.

Additionally, I found it extremely difficult to decipher any differences in the way each perspective was told; Kerry’s and Noah’s prose was nearly identical, without any different calling cards to spice up the prose.

I found it incredibly difficult to like Kerry and Noah. Kerry loses her temper often, she smacks her child, and consistently lies so that her life runs more smoothly. Are we supposed to pity and / or sympathize with her? Noah is a better person, but I still find him tiring to read. His entire commentary seems to be ‘I don’t know how to trust people, because I was adopted. Did you know? Did you know that I was adopted? I’ll tell you nine more times in this chapter, in case you forget.’ Many of the decisions Kerry and Noah make seem rushed and immature, which makes me lose my interest in them almost immediately after I find some.

 Lastly, I felt there were too many scenes that were too short. Imagine, having paragraphs so long that they fit half a page, but half a chapter is dedicated to an interesting location or adventure, like when they went to Brighton together. It felt so disappointing to have the characters travel there, eat a cone of chips, and head home. Then, we learned much of the conversation that was had through the other character’s perspective, in the next chapter. Too much of the novel just gives away exposition without actually providing an interesting plot or sequence of events.

However, there are some positive aspects to the novel. I enjoyed the idea of the separated siblings becoming close once again. Their plot lines of struggling with their marriages and children felt very natural, and I appreciated the inclusion of them to flesh out the characters. As someone who has a personal connection to separated relatives, I felt it interesting to see how these characters reacted to similar events. I could see why some readers may recommend this novel to fans of This is Us, Gilmore Girls, and Parenthood for the tough but sentimental family drama. The ending felt incredibly predictable, but I was still not really interested in its execution. I feel that most readers and writers could have predicted each plot point in order.

Unfortunately, I disliked this novel more than I liked it. I would consider reading another novel by this same author, but I just cannot speak to the brilliance of this one. The lackluster plot and writing style brought the novel down for me, lessening my enjoyment.

 

I rate this book at three stars out of five stars. Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for sending along a finished review copy.

"Mirrorland" Book Review

 Mirrorland

Written by Carole Johnstone

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

            Mirrorland boasts an incredible premise, taking the tale of two sisters and a suspicious husband and turning it through a fantastic nuanced lens. Carole Johnstone’s newest psychological thriller tells the story of Catriona (Cat) and Ellice (El), two sisters who grew up under surreal and strange conditions, the girls never understanding if their life was real or if they were part of their imagined play world, Mirrorland. They fought pirates, caught monsters, and hid from evil creatures, but as Cat processes her adulthood, she soon recognizes that those monsters were closer to reality than she had remembered. Cat is called back to her hometown and the house they two grew up in, when El disappears. The lead suspect is, naturally, El’s husband, Ross, who the girls both pined and fought for as teens.

 

            The story weaves in and out of the muddled past and back to the jaded present. Unfortunately, I do believe that as great as Johnstone storytelling is, that the past was jarring and uncomfortable to read, leaving for a less than perfect reading experience. As the secrets and truths are revealed, the Mirrorland storyline becomes more clear and even more horrifying. I find that readers who can be sensitive to dark material could become very triggered by this story, as it goes down many frightening paths that I wasn’t expecting. I did enjoy the twisting and ominous tales woven together, but I think it may be one of those books that once you read it, you might feel complacent to not read once more. Additionally, the Ross investigation was interesting, and I felt that it was told in a pleasant and suspenseful way. I do not think the way she unveiled his villainy was incredibly interesting, but I enjoyed how the girls’ love for Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption influenced the full plot.

 

            Finally, I do believe this is a great book. I am glad to have read from this author, and I will continue to follow her new releases. I think that the volume of disturbing and exploitative plot points can detract from the novel, but I do feel that the complete novel was enjoyable. Additionally, the lack of proper mental health help representation was disappointing. However, I urge readers to give this a try.

 

            I rate this novel at four out of five stars.

            Thank you to Scribner Publishing for sending a finished copy for reviewing purposes.

"Best Kept Secret" Book Review

 Best Kept Secret

Written by Amy Hatvany

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

    How to start writing a review, after stopping for about seven months of not doing so. Well, I have been busy, as most of us have been. Burn out, Covid, and my personal life have all contributed to my lack of interest posting about books on social media. I've gained weight, and I find it difficult to appear in pictures. Strangely enough, I feel myself ready to return. The first book I have read since deciding to start book blogging again is Best Kept Secret by Amy Hatvany.

    Do we still consider dramatic fiction about women to be called women's fiction? Do we still need to categorize novels based on the gender of who primarily reads them? I am sure that the Lifetime company leans into their female audience with far too many puns about cats, fire, and make-up, but perhaps we shouldn't be doing that as readers.

    Best Kept Secret is a drama fiction novel, following the main character, Cadence, as she struggles to keep custody of her son while she battles heavy alcoholism. Ask me if I would have read this two years ago, two months ago, two years from now? I am not sure. As someone who has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, one who has stopped drinking entirely at twenty-five years old, perhaps this book hit close to home. We can joke endlessly about women and teachers who need a whole bottle of wine at the end of a busy day, but perhaps we should not use language about alcohol so freely in comedy.

    Cadence's family and friends are not wonderfully supportive, but as she quickly spirals and hits rock bottom, those people around her start to forgive and help. Although the novel does not have a particularly enlightening ending, I found it fitting and appropriate. There is no shocking plot twist, and I am quite glad for that. Thinking this novel to be intriguing and arresting is one thing, but we do not need every fiction involving a female to have a heart-stopping climax. Most of the novel does feel slow and belabored, however, it creates a fuller and more effective plot.

    Amy Hatvany writes in a brilliant style, providing all the right details, creating interesting sequences, and fleshing out every character. Although the plot was not ideal for someone like me, I felt that I enjoyed the book, because she wrote it. I firmly intend to read any future books by her. I could recommend Best Kept Secret to fans of Jeannette Walls and Colleen Hoover. 

"Turtles All the Way Down" - Book Review -

 "Turtles All the Way Down"

Written by John Green

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

"Turtles All the Way Down" was a disappointing read from an author I believed I would not read from again. John Green, the author, has a way of creating pretentious characters, bare-boned plots, and disinteresting dialogue. In this story, the main characters Aza, our narrator, and her best friend, Daisy, learn of a wealthy fugitive running from the law. Aza and Daisy know the son of the fugitive, Davis. With The three of them on the case, they decide to learn more about Davis's eccentric father. However, along the way, Aza's mental and physical health have affected their progress.

Following a character with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and intrusive thoughts was an interesting experience. As a woman who experiences neither, learning more about mental health is always a bonus. Aza's experience with OCD is very trying, as she spends a large majority of the book peeling off band-aids, re-infecting wounds, and sanitizing the wounds. Additionally, Aza's coming-of-age story felt realistic because her experience of first love and a difficult friendship. 

Unfortunately, my dislike for the novel overtook my interest. There are many fundamental problems that I found in this book. For one, I found that Aza's mental health portrayal was presented in an irritating way, without forgiveness or gravitas, as if John Green had never even met someone with OCD and is prejudiced against it. Additionally, Daisy's character was incredibly irksome, calling Aza by her nickname "Holmsey" in every conversation at least once. Most of her arc is talking about the Star Wars fan fiction she writes, which did not add anything to the lessons of the story. Lastly, this may be petty. I wanted the story to be mostly about the search for the billionaire fugitive, but we have about 10 percent of the novel dedicated to it. The book itself felt too short without great characterization, appealing plot points, or a resolution. Most of the time while listening to the audiobook, I questioned 'is that it? Is that all we're going to get?'

In conclusion, I can recommend this novel for the coming-of-age portrayal of a young girl struggling with emotions from her father's death, her mental illness, and her first romance. However, I disliked this novel so much more than I thought. I have never been a fan of John Green's, but I gave this a chance, liking this novel even less than other works of his. The story just felt too incomplete to me, and I was gutted.

I rate this novel at 3 out of 5 stars.

"The Dark Path" - Book Review -

 "The Dark Path"

Written by Michelle Sacks

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

"The Dark Path", or also known as "You Were Made For This", was written by newcomer Michelle Sacks. The novel can be characterized as a domestic thriller or the newly proclaimed "Scandi-noir". In this novel, we learn of main characters Merry, Sam, and Frank. Overall, I was incredibly disturbed by this book, by its content matter, its unreliable narrators, and contrived ending.

To hide the past, Merry and her husband, Sam, move to an isolated wood in Sweden, close to Stockholm. Unfortunately, we learn very early on that Merry has a pattern of abusing and neglecting their son, Conor. When her best friend Frank comes to town,  Merry becomes increasingly aware of the dangers in their relationship. Frank has an illicit affair with Sam and a neighbor. When Conor is found dead, possibly by murder, there is no turning back for any of the protagonists. Who would and could hurt Conor?

My main dislike for this novel is the treatment of an abuse victim. I found that the scenes in which Conor was injured and physically abused were far too much for me. I felt uncomfortable and emotionally charged. Additionally, I felt that the story did not condemn the murderer as much as they should have done. The villain is revealed to have killed Conor to put him out of his misery, as one of the strangest motives I've ever seen.

Furthermore, I do not recommend this novel. Although Sacks has a great writing style, she wrote a really disturbing novel that I do not think one should read. I'd consider reading more work from her in the future, but I feel very apprehensive.

I rate this novel at two out of 5 stars.

"The Seven & 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle"

 "The Seven and 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle"

Written by Stuart Turton

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

 The Seven and 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a dark murder mystery, in a bizarre setting. We meet Aiden Bishop, our narrator, as he finds himself confused and trapped in the body of a Mr. Sebastian Bell. He is informed by a man dressed in a plague doctor costume, that Evelyn Hardcastle, the daughter of the legendary if not infamous Hardcastle family, will die eight separate days in a row, unless Aiden can solve the mystery of who killed her. On each of the eight days, he will inhabit the body of different hosts, in which he will use their skill set and personality to help him uncover the mystery. However, he is not alone in this quest. Anna, a woman who he remembers somehow, wakes every day without memory, to be taught each day by the hosts and a notebook that Aiden keeps. There are other rivals, like him, who are searching to solve the mystery first.

In the guise of a masquerade ball, Aiden blends in as each host, playing different archetypes: the heir, the banker, the gambler, the butler, and more. Each day is repeated in the same manner, similar to Groundhog Day. Certain objects can be remembered by Aiden each day to help him in his quest, like chess pieces and a compass. Aiden learns that he can leave notes as one host to be read by other guests that day and the next. His plans become very complex and tactical, which are over-explained for the readers to follow. I admit that in many chapters of the book, I felt confused beyond relief. In the final days and the climax, we readers receive a large amount of plot twists and interesting information, that explain the 'game' and who Aiden and Anna really are. I felt pleasantly surprised every step of the way, after anticipating the book since I had first heard of it.

Although this novel relies on suspended disbelief and gimmick, I think it is more than worthy of the buzz surrounding it. The plot, characters, dialogue, and story were so interesting and fun to read. I feel that those who enjoy Knives Out, Agatha Christie, Shirley Jackson, the game and film Clue, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Charles Dickens would enjoy this story. I enjoyed the elegant and opulent feel, juxtaposed with the dark and malevolent wishes of its characters in Blackhearth Manor. If only Vincent Price was alive to this day; he would have loved to be a part of a film or miniseries production. 

I absolutely adored this novel, even though it was difficult and manipulative at times. I feel that it's best served with a steaming cup of coffee, or whiskey if that's your pleasure. This novel requires stark concentration and note-taking. Good luck!

I rated this novel at 5 out of 5 stars. I eagerly anticipate to read more of this author's work.

"Our Chemical Hearts"

 "Our Chemical Hearts"

Written by Krystal Sutherland

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

Our Chemical Hearts stands out as being the most problematic book that I have read in a very, very long time. In anticipation of the release of its Amazon Studios adaptation, Our Chemical Hearts was recently re-printed to create buzz and attract new readers to the original source. However, I believe that author Krystal Sutherland created an extremely offensive and hurtful story, one to which teens should not be exposed.

The plot begins with the first person narrator, Henry, meeting the new girl, Grace, for the first time. Grace is extremely shy and is perceived as odd, because she smells, dresses in male clothing, doesn't appear to bathe, and she walks with a cane. Henry and Grace are tossed together to co-edit their high school's newspaper. Henry and his two best friends begin a Nancy Drew-like investigation to understand why Grace acts differently.

Very early on in the story, I began to believe that this is a harmful portrayal of teen relationships, sex, love, and grief, one that should not have been re-printed as it is. I absolutely believe that the publishing house is at fault for not editing the book and taking out matter that wasn't as problematic in 2016 when it was released, but it is now far more unhealthy. We readers and reviewers need to hold publishing houses accountable when they choose to release a book that portrays unhealthy depictions.

Feel free to click away in fear of spoilers, but I am about to list problems I had with this novel.

• Henry treats Grace like a manic pixie dream girl. There are repeated references to this issue in the story. Just because an author points out the flaws, it doesn't mean we can forgive them.
• There are far too many parenthetical asides. This writing style choice took me right out of the story by the end of the first chapter.
• Henry's two best friends are Murray (Muz) and Lola. Murray is portrayed as the annoying drunken foreign character, in this case Australian, who cannot take any situation seriously and uses far too much slang.
• Lola is a gay character, who never stops talking about being gay. I am in full support of having an LGBT character, but it seems like she was just used to be inclusive, not to be meaningful and shed important light on her experience. It feels as if the author watched two episodes of The L Word and thought it to be sufficient research.
• An Indian character named Seeta Ganguly is called Sugar Ghandi by all characters in every instance of her being spoken about.
• Henry's insistence on treating Grace like an experiment or a puzzle to be decoded. Her grief over her dead boyfriend isn't a light silly mystery for him to investigate. He also treats her terribly in nearly every conversation, because he is jealous of Dom.
• Yes, this was published four years ago. No, there still shouldn't have been a sexual encounter, in which Henry felt depressed that he couldn't have sex with her, because they were drunk. Not even a question of consent; he worried he would not be good at sex.
• In another instance, after he loses his virginity to Grace, he listens as she cries while falling asleep, crying that she misses Dom. And Henry is livid, not caring or understanding. He's livid that after he pressured her into sex, and frankly their entire relationship, that she doesn't feel elated after intercourse.
• There's another scene where he feels unhappy that they cannot have sex, because she is too drunk. The conversation should be surrounding that she may have an alcohol problem, not that he has blue balls.
• Henry, his sister, and his best friends stalk Grace as she walks to the cemetery, when they first realize Grace might be unhappy.
• A "Why You Should Date Me" powerpoint presentation, which Henry uses to manipulate Grace and bully her. In which he mentions how her ex abandoned her, not possibly considering who she could have been visiting at the cemetery.
• We even have a moment where Grace tells Henry that she will stop going to visit Dom, because of Henry, because doesn't want her to "|lie| on the grass above his decomposing corpse, crying tears that seeped into the earth to rest upon his coffin".
• Tasteless jokes about her injury and accident. Dom is dead, was killed in an accident that Grace was involved in, and Henry just feels mad that Grace's every thought isn't consumed by Henry. Imagine if something similar happened to your cousin, sister, boyfriend, best friend in real life. Is this how you'd like the story to be told?
• I don't feel the characters or the readers learn any lesson from this story. Teens will not read this and take any positive wisdom away from it.
• There are far too many jokes and negative comments about addicts, especially those who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction. I feel I could count on my hands and toes how many times I read the word 'junkie'.

Let us now examine some direct quotes from this novel:

"Because apparently you still have to chase girls who can't run."

"...Trying to decide if I wanted to vomit because I was drunk or because the girl I'd lost my virginity to had probably been thinking about her dead boyfriend the whole time."

"I wanted so badly to stick to my guns, to make her feel bad for the weeks of hell she'd put me through when she chose her dead boyfriend over me."

In defense of the novel, I enjoyed some aspects of Our Chemical Hearts. I personally enjoyed Henry and Grace's characters at first, as well as the best friends and Henry's family. However, Henry's character was soured very quickly. I loved Grace's character. She is portrayed in her grief very accurately and carefully, which made me wish the whole story was through her eyes, rather than Henry's rose-tinted glasses. Grace was flawed and interesting, and I wish we could have seen more of that, instead of Henry moping about her. Additionally, I enjoyed the format types: text messages, letters, and other social media messages.

Still, this novel is one of the worst cases of toxic romanticization and poor misrepresentation I have ever read. Every John Green book combined with Rainbow Rowell, as the publisher advertises, would be less problematic and hurtful than this novel. I cannot believe that Bonnier Books / their young adult imprint, Hot Key Books, would allow this book to be reprinted, without major edits. This book is horrible and sets terrible examples for teens and young adults. Impressionable readers could misconstrue this novel, but the worst offender is the publishing house for not caring enough about the readers to fix these issues. In an era where political correctness and stories of the Me Too movement are so important and relevant, it feels that Bonnier Books spits in the face of these important topics and completely ignores them, like Henry ignores Grace's true feelings. There is no excuse for this publishing company to have acted this way, other than a greedy gimmick to bring in readers and money. In no way do I recommend this author or novel.

Thank God, they did not end up together. I truly would have burned this book.

I was sent a complimentary edition of this novel by Bonnier Books and Hot Keys YA.

"Eden"

 "Eden"

Written by Tim Lebbon

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

Eden bursts out onto the scene of a newer sub-genre: eco-horror. Eco-horror is categorized as a horror work, that has the true villain be a secondary cause of the conflict. The main conflict instead is the human influence on the world, on the ecological environment. Additionally, Eden can fall into the sub-genre of natural horror, as the world attacks back. The author, Tim Lebbon, might be familiar to some from his books and the recent Netflix adaptation of his novel, The Silence, starring Kiernan Shipka, Miranda Otto, and Stanley Tucci.

In Eden, a group of adventure explorers decide to illegally enter Eden, one of the safe, beautiful thirteen zones off limits, in a world that is on the brink of falling apart. With oceans rising to unsafe degrees and the depletion of the rainforest, Earth looks how scientists predict it will. The crew consists of Lucy, Aaron, Selina, Dylan, Cove, Gee, and Jenn. Jenn is our leading female protagonist and 'final girl'. Her father, Dylan, has been exploring with her for years.

Notoriously, Eden is a beautiful, lush zone that has been reclaimed by nature but many know it to be dangerous. Each crew member has a reason for entering. Many people have been searching each zone for the fabled ghost orchid, which may have properties that can save the planet. Jenn has an underlying motive for joining the expedition. She believes that her mother, Kat, was on an earlier expedition through Eden.

The horror style of the story comes into play early on. The beginning of the novel feels a tad slow, but author Lebbon takes his time to develop each character and introduce exposition in a realistic way. I do love an action / adventure / horror that begins while the characters are in transportation, en route to their dangerous mission. When the characters land, they start to discover some sinister plays in motion. They find many dead bodies, not necessarily decomposing but placed in a way that nature reacts to them. Water flows through a body. Flowers grow from a body. Additionally, we have a perspective that follows Kat, as she descends into a monstrous animal. 

Personally, I felt the story fell a little flat for me. I enjoyed the action and adventure moments, but many scenes felt a little too long. I also wish that the relationship between Dylan and Jenn. Their father-daughter dynamic is interesting, but I felt that Lebbon focused heavily on Dylan's relationship with his ex-wife. However, I still genuinely liked the story. I found the bloodthirsty animals and strange plant biology to be very unique, and it proved to be an effective horror novel, even though I felt like most of the novel was a combination of Jurassic Park and Predator, possibly due to the author's work for the Alien vs. Predator novels and on other sci-fi novelizations. I think that some readers might have hoped for more of a post-apocalyptic story, but I found that Eden succeeded in not living up to that expectation. I just wished that the novel was a bit more insightful than fun.

Finally, I rated this story at four out of 5 stars. I'll be keeping it in my collection and continuing to read more works from Tim Lebbon in the future!

Thank you to the lovely Titan Books for sending a finished copy in early 2020 for my reviewing purposes. I think we can all understand why us reviewers are a little delayed this year!

"Call Me By Your Name"

"Call Me By Your Name"

Written by Andre Aciman

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

Call Me By Your Name is marvelous and mesmerizing. The novel is romantic fiction bearing a plot that follows a 17 year-old Italian boy, Elio, who falls in love with his American houseguest, Oliver. They engage in a romantic summer fling, which could only ever lead to heartbreak. However, the positive and uplifting ending leads into the sequel, Find Me, which I plan to read soon. In a similar 'love then lost' storyline to a favorite, Tin Man by Sarah Winman, I found this novel to be a brand new favorite.

To continue, Aciman has a brilliant and captivating writing style, that just makes the reader feel good while reading, as if it is able to cause a serotonin release all on its own. The story feels pure, but sadly, Oliver does not. Elio is sweet, caring, and a little weird, but he feels so incredibly realistic, as if he could be telling the story to the reader in the same room. Oliver runs hot and cold, which just causes Elio to find him even more irresistible. I find him to be uninteresting at most times, while Elio carries the story in his poetic first person narration.

The characters play off so brilliantly, showing the stark difference between the two, as they both engage in this relationship. While I feel much more sympathetic and loving towards Elio, I felt it was interesting to see Oliver's character development in the later portions of the book, in Rome and in the epilogue portions. I felt so much longing and aching while reading, especially during their last days together. As someone in a long-distance relationship, I understand the pain of saying goodbye and wanting to drink every last second of the other person before separating. 

Additionally, I read this in a print form, but I imagine it'd be lovely to listen to as an audiobook. I plan to watch the film. I truly believe that this novel is best consumed in a kinesthetic way, recommending that the reader listens while drinking wine, having cheese and grapes, sitting outside in the sun, and even while listening to Taylor Swift's new album, Folklore. I plan to be engaging similarly again, when I pick up the sequel and when watching the film adaptation.

Lastly, I want to point out that although there is an age gap between the characters, I think one can push past it. The age of consent in Italy is fourteen, so even if that skeeves you out, the relationship in the novel is consenting at all times.

I rate this book at 5 out of 5 stars. It will stay in my collection and be cherished.

 

"Mayhem"

"Mayhem"

Written by Estelle Laure

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

Mayhem soars onto the scene, boasting a young adult supernatural and thriller premise but also tackles feminism and female relationships. Estelle Laure is a newer writer, but she proves in her writing of this novel that she has chops and that she's worth investing in time and attention. Mayhem follows the descendants of the Brayburn women, a magical family, that drinks from a magical water in scenic Santa Maria, California. This cautionary tale warns of madness, power, ambition, and learning when to step down, but it also promotes female empowerment, standing up for oneself, and saying 'no'. Females from all ages can appreciate this story, as many of us have had moments in our lives when saying 'no' was not an easy choice or not option at all.

To continue, the main character of this story is no other than Mayhem Brayburn. She and her mother, Roxy, move back to their hometown, Santa Maria, after Roxy decides to escape her abusive husband, Lyle. With the assistance of Elle, Roxy's sister, they become assimilated back into the beachy yet mysterious town. Mayhem befriends the teens that Elle has taken in, Neve, Jason, and Kidd. She is soon clued into a magical water, that empowers the Brayburn women but will drive others mad with anger and desire to kill. The intense emotions add fuel to the fire, as the teens brace up to hunt down a serial killer who has been targeting teen girls.

Laure references many inspirations for this novel, including The Craft and The Lost Boys. I also see a bit from the dark humor reminding me of Heathers and the evil magic of Carrie. I personally found that the most important plot point within this novel is the relationship of Mayhem and Roxy, and the rest seems to be background noise. I personally was invested in this novel due to the magic and the mystery, but I found both to be lackluster. Most of the novel follows Roxy and Mayhem's relationship and the teens Mayhem befriends. I hoped for a more developed storyline as the characters hunt for the serial killer, but we found out early on who it was, and we had about a chapter dedicated to their murder of him. 

I do like the themes of this story, of trust, friendship, feminism, and power. Additionally, Laure's portrayal of the characters after the serial killer's death was interesting. In many stories like this, the characters feel remorse for their crimes, but there often is one character who continues to act irrationally. I enjoyed the final reveal of the worst villain, but I think that due to the morals projected from each reader, perhaps they will not agree with my point of view.

Lastly, I do believe that the book was a very worthy entry into the teen supernatural subgenre. Also, I believe that I had very mixed feelings on this novel, so I can understand why others might not be blown away. However, I implore you to try to read it, even if it does not sound enrapturing. I'd love to see this turned into a mini-series or a film. It has cinematic potential, and I'd love to see this important story become more public and well-known.

I offer a trigger warning for suicide, abuse, mental health, and sexual content.

I rate this novel at four out of five stars.

Thank you to the wonderful Wednesday Books for sending an advance copy to read and review. Thank you for the opportunity. 

"Ghosted"

"Ghosted"

Written by Rosie Walsh

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

Ghosted or alternatively known as The Man Who Didn't Call, is a romantic thriller that piqued my interest when looking for a new audiobook to listen to. Instantly, I found myself entranced in the story, narrated by the wonderful Katherine Press. Rosie Walsh, the writer, has created an interesting story, with likeable characters more developed than most in both the romantic and and thriller genres. 

In the story, Sarah and Eddie have had a seven-day whirlwind romance after meeting. Sarah, recently divorced from her business partner, and Eddie, single, learn more about each other than they ever could have anticipated. After Eddie leaves to go on a pre-planned vacation, he stops responding to calls, messages, and is inactive on social media. Has he 'ghosted' her, by ignoring her like a ghost, or could he possibly be in danger?

The story progressed to have multiple perspectives, from Sarah's, Eddie's, and through letters. Sarah's fear for Eddie's safety stems from an accident that she caused, leaving us to wonder more about the mystery. Could Eddie have been involved, more than she knows? Additionally, due to Eddie's disappearance, Sarah's career is faltering. As a CEO of a company that brings clowns to patients in hospitals, her career relies on her responsibility and communication with her ex-husband and his new girlfriend. Coupled with a bit of drama between her and her best friends, Tommy, Jo, and Jenny, Sarah's life feels out of control.

By the time we receive all of the facts, it is up to us readers to decide who is right, wrong, and who deserves forgiveness. The question of mercy brings the reader in more, making the story seem more realistic and relatable, depending on the morals of those turning the pages.

I personally loved this book. There were many reveals that I could not expect but there were enough I saw coming, so the plot did not seem far-fetched. I also loved the writing style, characters, and overall message. It sheds a light on today's society and the change that one must undergo to be forgiven.

I rate this novel as 5 stars out of 5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I recommend listening to the audiobook. It provided a great listening experience, as I have begun daily walking, yoga, and running. I look forward to reading more by Rosie Walsh, even though I think I have accidentally already owned this book but didn't realize due to the title change. One of those things, eh?

"Exhibit Alexandra"

"Exhibit Alexandra"

Written by Natasha Bell

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia 

Exhibit Alexandra

Let's begin. My first impression in the first few chapters of this novel was that I had begun a visceral, wild ride of a novel, one from which I could trust not a single character. Alexandra, the narrator, explains that she has been taken, and she knows how her husband would react to every moment following. Her character tells the story in first person omniscient, which is a style I have not read in some time. She tells his perspective based on what she thinks he would be doing and what he has done. Additionally, we are introduced to letters from Am to Al, which appear to be Alexandra's ex-roommate attempting to contact her.

There are various plot twists in this story, so I will keep the review brief to prevent any readers to spoil themselves. We find out the truth behind the kidnapping, we find out who is involved, and why.

Personally, the turns that Bell developed were surprising to me, but I also was not thoroughly impressed. In the vein of many similar thrillers like

I rated this novel at 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to Crown Publishing for sending along a finished copy to read and review.

"The Secret History"

“The Secret History”

Written by Donna Tartt

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

The Secret History is a modern classic, that helped define the dark academia genre. The genre is classified by its mix for characters’ appreciation and love for Greek, Roman, Italian, French, and romantic culture, and the characters’ descent into dark crimes. The setting is almost always an exclusive boarding school or college. Other famous novels, which I have all read, in this genre are If We Were Villains, Long Black Veil, Dead Poets Society, Black Chalk, and She was Always the Quiet One. As an anglophile who would consider this genre to be a favorite, I knew for years I wanted to go to the core, to return to the roots of this type of novel. Many say that The Secret History and Dead Poets are the parents of this genre, so I was thrilled to begin.

 

This novel, one of Donna Tartt’s masterpieces, about a group of Classics majors at an elite university has become praised, mocked, and emulated in many popular films and television shows. Most recently, a teen favorite to love and hate, Riverdale centered its fourth season around the similar theme, with a main character beginning school at a literature-centered boarding school. There are characters similar to Tartt’s, including a character even named after her, called Donna Sweett. Tartt’s novel has such lasting power, that so many works have been inspired by her. My favorite is mentioned earlier, If We Were Villains, about a close-knit group of theatre students who begin acting suspiciously like their William Shakespearean counterparts.

 

In The Secret History, we meet a cult-like group of individuals, obsessed with classics culture and speaking romance languages. Charles and Camilla are twins, bordering on the incestuous side. Francis is wild yet reliable. Henry is a sensitive yet caring guy. Lastly, Edmund “Bunny” Corcoran is Henry’s foil, a rude and terrible man who takes advantage of everyone in the group. However, the story starts out on a very interesting note: our narrator, Richard, tells us the investigation team and police have found Bunny’s body after ten days of his murder. Richard also tells us that he and his friends are behind it. The story then propels backward to the beginning of Richard’s education at the Hampden boarding school, showing us each character’s descent into mania and madness.

 

Tartt does an excellent job at creating characters that are meant to be disliked, beloved, frowned upon, and absolutely hated. Depending on the reader’s personality type, Tartt’s characters will be relatable to some, while all readers can agree that Bunny is purely disgusting. However, we readers must look upon our own moral compass and decide if his death is justified.

 

Tartt’s writing style may be off-putting to some, but I found myself eating it up like ice cream. I found her verbose and eloquent way of writing to perfectly match the story style. Each character has distinct mannerisms, vocabularies, and personality traits that easily define them and allow us readers to find them significant. Additionally, a dark tale at an elite university would require thick language and require references to the romance languages these characters speak. To some, the language and dialogue may feel pompous, but I believe that the story could not be told in any other fashion. The bombastic style allows the story to feel authentic. While I personally never attended a university or boarding school, I can recognize the human nature and imagine myself there. Her more irritating characters feel realistically annoying. Tartt’s work never feels excessive, and readers can appreciate the time, effort, and research she invested into this project.

 

I personally loved the story, but I must acknowledge some flaws. There are some horrific moments of sexual content that has not aged well. We must consider the time it was written and also which characters are saying and acting this way. We are not meant to sympathize and agree with the horrific words and actions in which the main characters partake. Additionally, I believe that many readers could find frustration in how long the story is. In comparison, I find other stories in the dark academia genre to not be long enough. The Secret History takes place over the darkest year of Richard’s life, so it would feel it would be an injustice to have the story take place over only 300 pages. The 550+ page length of the story includes fleshed-out characters, intense but vivid scenes, and appealing sequences. Many novels do not include every length that Tartt has included. I only wish we could have a current adaptation of this, perhaps into a mini-series directed and acted in by the best and brightest of current Hollywood.

 

Moreover, this novel includes LGBT characters, similar to If We Were Villains. Thankfully, in comparison, Tartt does not use the LGBT characters to send a graphic message or manipulate the characters specifically because of their sexuality. However, I still do not think the representation of the LGBT characters, especially for Francis and Richard, was a successful one, merely glossing over certain moments due to the characters’ inebriation. As mentioned above, I do warn about the incestuous relationships, and the sexual content. Also, this genre glorifies murder, smoking, drugs, alcohol, sleepless nights, and unhealthy relationships.

 

Furthermore, I highly recommend this novel to those who have enjoyed all books, films, and television programs I have mentioned above. Those who love gothic and dark themes, especially in works for young adults and teens, may enjoy this novel, if they have not yet learned about it. I also recommend this book to lovers of Carrie, Heathers, Kill Your Darlings, Never Let Me Go, and even Rope.

 

Lastly, I will rate The Secret History at 5 out of 5 stars. I was very lucky to find my copy at a free little library, but I will plan to buy a nicer and cleaner copy.

"Bottled Goods"

“Bottled Goods”

Written by Sophie van Llewyn

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

A tale of political revolution mixed with magical realism could be a cocktail for a great novel, with lasting power and relevance to today’s climate. Admittedly, Bottled Goods is a fantastic look into the Romanian Revolution, how defecting your government and escaping would look in that era. Our main characters are Alina, Liviu, Alina’s mother, and her Aunt Theresa. Conversely, the plot barely relied on the magical realism aspect, being able to shrink people to fit in a bottle, until the last act of the story.

Alina’s narrative voice interested me. I loved learning more about the Romanian Revolution in simplistic and realistic views, letting us see how it affected everyday citizens, like a favorite of mine Persepolis. Her unhappy marriage and her strong dislike towards her parents led to an unsympathetic choice she makes, but it does not lead to a perfectly happy ending. Personally, I became invested in this novel for the wrong reasons. I imagined it to be more like Snow in August, Pan’s Labyrinth, Exit West, and more, in which the magical realism relates politics to magical elements in a symbiotic way. However, I felt that the plot was not propelled by the shrinking magic, where I thought it would have more of an influence.

Additionally, this book was only 180 pages. Due to its small size, it includes chapters that are more vignettes and were serialized by the author. This lends the book to feel too short and hardly developed, without us learning much about each character. I do recommend this novel, but I just wish that the story would have been longer and fulfilled my expectations more.

I rate this novel at 3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to Harper Perennial for the advance copy, sent to me in exchange for a reading and reviewing purpose.

“Goodnight Beautiful”

“Goodnight Beautiful”

Written by Aimee Molloy

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

Goodnight Beautiful is the second psychological thriller that Aimee Molloy has written. Molloy’s first thriller was a favorite of mine, The Perfect Mother, about a woman whose son goes missing a few weeks after she’s joined a mommy group. When picking up her next, I remembered how I enjoyed Molloy’s ability to subvert expectations, without providing too much detail and allowing the reader to assume and trust the writing. Again, what a brilliant entry into the psychological thriller genre. Molloy’s manipulative style allows for another conniving villain to come forth, without us even realizing what was wrong until it’s too late.

To begin with, the plot follows Sam and Annie, a married couple who seem happy on the surface. We learn that it’s far too easy to listen in on Sam’s therapist sessions with his clients, which allows us to be instantly suspicious of him. Also, in a stark change to the genre, Sam is the one who goes missing, which was so surprising to me, because we never see the husband go missing. Additionally, the story is told in two perspectives: a third person perspective of Sam and Annie and a first-person narration which maybe you shouldn’t trust. Similar to great thriller writers like Sarah Pekkanen, Greer Hendricks, and the Liv Constantine sisters, the reader learns that all too soon, we cannot trust who we’re reading about.

Without giving too much more away, I applaud this book. Many moments of the story are completely unexpected, while some are perfectly expected, but not for the right reason. Molloy sets certain scenes to follow the pattern of what we would expect from this type of book, to throw it in our faces and say “No. Of course it wouldn’t be her or him”. Similar to the great Knives Out film that has just graced us with its presence, we should never predict anything in this novel.

There were some issues I had with the novel. I found the final mystery to be an interesting reveal, but due to my familiarity with Molloy, I was not surprised. Was this intentional? Hm. Also, a major nod to a great mystery thriller, Misery, allowed for some fun moments, but it felt that Molloy took too much inspiration and did not make her story unique enough.

Finally, I loved this book. Although I was unimpressed with the Misery connection, I found this novel to be outrageously fun and deliciously twisted. I highly recommend it, to even new readers to this genre. I rate this at 4 out of 5 stars. I plan to keep it in my collection for years to come. I eagerly anticipate future works from Aimee Molloy.

I received an advance copy from Harper Books in exchange for my reading and reviewing purposes. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity.

“And Now She’s Gone”

“And Now She’s Gone”

Rachel Howzell Hall

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

For many years, I have gravitated towards psychological thrillers that have a female lead, because frankly, we do not get many female protagonists unless they’re in perilous situations. Am I enabling the genre for not expecting more from its authors, or am I embracing any chance at a female lead? Either way, the newest debut from Rachel Howzell Hall is presented to us in two perspectives: of Grayson Sykes and Mrs. Dyson. We soon find out how the two are connected, and how the connection will lead to the disappearance and search for Isabel Lincoln. Gray is hired by Isabel’s partner, Ian, but it soon becomes suspect that Isabel has fled on purpose, hoping to not be found.

Hall creates a dark abyss of deceit that Gray falls into, as she searches for the elusive Isabel. Furtive characters come out of the woodworks and reveal interesting clues about who Isabel may be and what her choices might mean. Eventually, we are led to an appealing and challenging climax that made the book worthwhile.

 

However, I felt that the execution of its plot, characters, prose, and dialogue did a disservice to those elements. Hall uses long-winded descriptions, common dialogue, far too large an ensemble, and many filler scenes that do not reveal enough detail about the story. I felt that the two major plots: Isabel’s disappearance and the truth behind Mrs. Dyson were too different and unnecessary to have both. I could see how the Mrs. Dyson plotline could tie into the backstory of Grayson, but it did not feel necessary to set it up as half of the plot. Two major plotlines with two major villains turned the book into a tiring reading experience for me.

 

One of the best things about this story is that it is written by a woman of color. Although the psychological thriller genre is dominated by white men and women, I was so grateful to spend more time reading from perspectives and experiences of black characters. In today’s climate, we have an obligation to read more diverse books and encourage budding black writers, so let’s start here. I fully plan to read other works by Hall that have been already written and more to come.

 

Due to my dislike for much of the writing style, I give this a three out of five stars. I still enjoyed the book for the most part, and I recommend it.

Thank you to Forge Reads at Tor Publicity for sending along a complimentary copy to read and review.

 

"Algedonic"

“Algedonic”

Written by R.H. Sin

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

Algedonic is a collection written by the prolific and well-beloved modern poet, R.H. Sin. His type of poetry includes themes of mental health, romance, confidence, self-care, and self-love. Sin creates many dark poems with light tones and vice versa, allowing the reader to indulge in his figurative language and appreciate the deeper meaning to his words. The word ‘algedonic’ means: characterized by or relating to pain, especially as associated with pleasure, says Merriam-Webster. This collection’s theme is poetry that fits into this category: how pain from love and life can be mixed with pleasure. Sin creates the poetry in this collection to incorporate the full scale, of how painful love can be attractive and how it can be deadly.

The two sections, PAIN | CHAOS and PLEASURE | PAIN, have small poems inside without titles. The poems speak to the survivors of these experiences. Using beautiful figurative language and twists on common phrases and idioms, Sin creates wonderfully written poetry.

In conclusion, I absolutely adored this collection. Due to its interesting theme, I felt myself very entertained. Many verses in these poems feel truthful yet heartbreaking. As I had borrowed the book from the library to read this, I now will be planning to purchase it and keep it in my collection.

I rate this collection at 5 out of 5 stars.

"Blood Moon" - Book Review -

“Blood Moon”

Written by Lucy Cuthew

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

“Society is disgusting. You are amazing”.

In verse, Lucy Cuthew uses poetry, imagery, and symbolism to create Blood Moon, a timely portrayal of how high school teens view sex, menstruation, and friendship. Cuthew’s story begins as our main narrator, Frankie, loses the trust and respect of her best friend, Harriet, as she reacts negatively to Harriet’s decision to send an inappropriate photograph of herself to their teacher.

Although the story is told in a format I strongly dislike, I still feel that the novel feels whole and encompasses the plot well. Frankie is a sweet and quiet girl, who spends her time learning about astronomy and physics, while crushing on a cute boy named Benjamin. Frankie’s reputation landslides after she has a sexual experience with Benjamin, then promptly has her period. Harsh begin to spread, as well as jokes, photos, and lies, with Harriet seemingly at the epicenter.

I personally loved the portrayal of the friendship between Frankie and Harriet. When the characters are spending quality time, it feels nostalgic and warm, as if the reader wishes they were at the same sleepover. When bitter emotion turns their blood cold, we feel like we’re in the room when it happens.

The story feels important and interesting, as it questions the readers’ opinions on ‘slut-shaming’, bullying, sex, menstruation, and friendship. I feel that the lessons that we come away with are relevant in today’s society, when many citizens feel that this country is full of people who dislike women and disrespect them. Additionally, I recommend this novel to those who enjoy reading coming-of-age stories about teens in high school, with themes centering around first love, bullying, perception of self, and female friendships. I felt reminded of Speak, Carrie, and a favorite, Jennifer’s Body.

Unfortunately, I felt that the format took me out of the story often. Many of the characters use teen slang far too often, to the point of it being distracting rather than realistic. I felt that the epic poem style of this story left out many important aspects that I enjoy. I felt it harder to relate to characters and harder to see myself through the same lens. I have not ever enjoyed the verse style of reading a full fiction story. I do believe that if you personally enjoy verse fiction storytelling, you’d enjoy this.

In conclusion, I thought this short novel to be enthralling, as it made me question my own thoughts on the subject. It also made me regret some things that I have said about my fellow gender in the past. This story allows you to take many lessons: how to treat others, how to respect ourselves, who we need to respect, and how to be respectful. I do not imagine many of those who need to learn these lessons will read this story, but I appreciate how this novel could create a dialogue. I would be interested to read more from this author.

For this novel, I give a few trigger warnings for: threats of sexual assault, rape, bullying, and sex.

I received a complimentary advance copy from Walker Books at Candlewick Press to read and review. Thank you to the publishing company for the opportunity.

"The Turn of the Key" - Book Review -

“The Turn of the Key”

Written by Ruth Ware

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

The Turn of the Key is the fifth novel in Ruth Ware’s repertoire, another incredibly enjoyable entry into the psychological thriller subgenre. Reminding many readers of The Turn of the Screw, The Others, and the many gothic works of Daphne Du Maurier, this novel tells the story of a nanny who quickly realizes her job is more than she bargained for. In this story, we are introduced to Rowan through her written letters to a lawyer as she waits in prison for her trial. She protests her innocence, that she did not ‘kill that child’. Her secrets unfold in her letters, as she tells the lawyer the tale of her time at Heatherbrae House.

I do believe that most of Ruth Ware’s novels are best consumed without much information, so I will attempt to keep this review vague and concise. Rowan meets her employers, Sandra and Bill, who have two little daughters and a rebellious and rude teen daughter. Rowan finds solace in her colleague, the caretaker Jack. Rowan’s main motivation through her letters is to absolve herself and prove her innocence, but she starts to unveil secrets that make her the more suspicious.

Another central conflict is the fear of Heatherbrae House. The legendary owner is a man whose young daughter died after ingesting berries from the house’s poison garden!! Also, there is a locked door in Rowan’s bedroom, which she feels a draft coming from. Why does she hear footsteps at night?

My final thoughts on this are that I enjoyed the plot, characters, and the mystery. The final ending was unpredictable, but I personally did not love it. I felt halfhearted about it, since I felt the mystery was cleverly planned. For what it’s worth, I think that my enjoyment of this story was heightened by Imogen Church’s brilliant narration. Her creativity with her voice work is worth awarding.

In conclusion, I loved it. It will not cement itself as my first favorite of Ruth Ware’s, but I do plan to purchase a print copy and keep in my collection. I highly recommend her work and think it to be a higher caliber than other mystery thrillers. She is a favorite author of mine, and I cannot wait to read her next novel.