Open Wide

 

Open Wide by Jessica Gross - 272 pages

Synopsis: Olive is desperate to get close to Theo—really, really close. She’s always struggled to connect with people. And now she’s in her thirties, single, and so flustered by relationships that she secretly records her conversations, hoping to decipher social clues
and find a way to be less alone.

Then Theo turns up for a shift at the same food pantry where she volunteers. He’s a surgeon fascinated by human organs, a former soccer player, and possibly as weird as Olive. For the first time, someone seems to crave and understand her. Every recording Olive makes of Theo is a balm, which just makes her more afraid of losing him. The only solution seems to be to bind him to her forever. Luckily, the gap between Theo’s front teeth is just wide enough for something—or someone—to slip inside.

Arresting and immersive, Open Wide explores the boundaries of love and the body, as universal human impulses bleed into the surreal.

My Thoughts: This was an... interesting read. I really appreciate weird-girl representation in any media but this one had me going "What am I reading?" the entire time. Complete confusion the entire way through. Overall a good book and had a lot of relatable themes, if you can get past the surreal nightmare it turns into. Olive will give any other fictional weird-girl a run for her money. 

Piranesi

 

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke - 272 pages

Synopsis: Piranesi’s house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house.

There is one other person in the house—a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known.

My Thoughts: LOVED this book. Piranesi quickly became one of my favorite characters of all time. The story was beautiful, emotional, and made me cry multiple times. I especially appreciated the focus on the very human compassion and warmth Piranesi shows unconditionally to every other character in the book. Cannot say enough good things about this book. 

A Discovery of Witches

 A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness Bk 1, 592 pages

Synopsis: A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

My Thoughts: This book had a slow start, but it picked up about partway through. The chemistry/biology talk was a little confusing, but also interesting to learn more about. I did struggle with Matthew saying Diana had to obey him, and her being an independent woman at the start; just going along with it was out of character. Overall, if you enjoy magic, witches, vampires, daemon, time walking, and alchemy, you will greatly enjoy this book!

Empire of Storms

 Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas Bk 5 733 pages

Synopsis: The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't.

With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

My Thoughts: This book really sets Aelin in stone as a major character who wants to save her kingdom and ultimately the world. She's the anti-hero you didn't know you needed to read about. The choices each character has to make are heart-wrenching, and all of these choices are leading up to the big war. 

Queen of Shadows

 Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas 672 pages bk 4

Synopsis: Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Everyone Aelin loves has been taken from her. Everything she holds dear is in danger. But she has the heart of a queen-and that heart beats for vengeance.

My Thoughts: I love Throne of Glass. I haven't read this series in a long long time, and I began it again, and I forgot how much I love book 4. The pacing, the plot, the characters. I love that this is the first series she wrote, and she wrote it more plot-driven than the other series she's created. I always cry at the end; Aelin is the most 3-dimensional character I have ever witnessed, and she is one of my favorites. 

We Used to Live Here

 

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer - 312 pages

Synopsis: As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can’t believe the killer deal they’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they’re working in the house one day, there’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in.

As soon as the strangers enter their home, inexplicable things start happening, including the family’s youngest child going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things?

My Thoughts: The story was fun, it absolutely flew by and was a very easy read. The main mystery kept me hooked throughout, even though I didn't love the characters. I kept hearing that the ending was terrible but I really didn't mind it. There were also some fun dynamics introduced that were completely abandoned partway through. All in all, it was okay - very fun but not super high quality. 

I Who Have Never Known Men

 

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman - 173 pages

Synopsis: Deep underground, forty women live imprisoned in a cage. Watched over by guards, the women have no memory of how they got there, no notion of time, and only a vague recollection of their lives before.

As the burn of electric light merges day into night and numberless years pass, a young girl—the fortieth prisoner—sits alone and outcast in the corner. Soon she will show herself to be the key to the others' escape and survival in the strange world that awaits them above ground.

My Thoughts: The story felt slow, especially for such a short book, but it was captivating. I enjoyed the ending and felt that it added to the themes in the story. The characters were interesting and well fleshed out.