I really enjoyed the way the story was told. It was broken up into 5 acts and was told from the point of view of Elliot, an (incredibly) unreliable narrator. Having Elliot tell the story was the perfect choice. I liked how conversational his narration was. It made the story more engaging. Every act revealed something new and the twists were revealed at a good pace.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/10/28/review-the-fury/

Going into the story, I didn‘t have any particular expectations because I am not familiar with Amethyst and Gemworld. But after reading this, I‘m thinking I should start looking into her and Gemworld because she‘s pretty cool and Gemworld sounds like an amazing place.

The artwork and style were so cute. It worked perfectly for a younger audience.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/10/24/review-amethyst-princess-of-gemwo...

This book was like Gossip Girl meets Sally Rooney. Parts of it were light hearted rich people drama, but when it came to Magnolia and BJ‘s relationship, there was a lot of intense emotional depth. Magnolia and BJ have a toxic and codependent relationship that was just so fascinating and addicting to read.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/10/23/review-magnolia-parks-magnolia-pa...

The best part of the story is the use of Filipino culture. It‘s so representative of it, particularly how nosy and meddling some Filipino ninangs and titas can be.

I also loved the characters. Lila, her friends, her family. I adored them all! They really made this a “cozy” mystery.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/10/13/review-murder-and-mamon-tita-rosi...

The story was so moving; it even made me tear up at some points. The heart of it was centered on grief and loss. I loved how the book explored those topics. It emphasized the different types of loss and how everyone moves on at their own pace and in their own way. The journey varies from person to person.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/10/10/review-sea-glass-memories-seahave...

I was a little confused at the beginning, mainly because of the characters that are introduced all at once, but once I got into the story it all became much clearer.

The plot of this book is just crazy and that‘s the genius of it. I don‘t know how Emily Bronte came up with this story but it‘s insane. The more I read, the wilder it got. My mind is still reeling

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/10/07/review-wuthering-heights/

Going into this book, I didn‘t know what to expect. I didn‘t know much about Krypton, other than the fact it is Superman‘s birthplace. But once I started reading it, I was very intrigued!

I‘ve read many of DC‘s graphic novels for young adults, and this one leans more on the action packed side. It is full of adventure and there is never a dull moment.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/09/27/review-house-of-el-house-of-el-1/

The story is so fun and whimsical and it just made me feel so nostalgic. Pooh and all is friends are so endearing and I love every single one of them (Eeyore being my fav). I was surprised to discover that Tigger is not in this book; he appears in the sequel. I was so charmed by all the characters that I actually didn‘t notice his absence until the last chapter.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/09/21/review-winnie-the-pooh/

This book centers on the Herbana Witch, which is a type of witch who is connected to nature. The book is divided up into the 4 seasons and provides witchy information on plants, animals, and activities to do during each season. It was highly informative and I learned a lot of new things, especially regarding the properties of certain plants.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/09/18/review-herbana-witch/

I am such a huge fan of Lang Leav, so I knew I had to read this book. I thought this was such a poignant and impactful story.

The writing style is gorgeous. Lang Leav is a wonderful poet so it‘s no surprise her prose is just as beautiful.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/09/17/review-other-were-emeralds/

Since this is an epistolary novel, it is told almost entirely through emails and text exchanges. I am a huge fan of epistolary books, and the format worked so well for this story. The book is about two people who meet on an online dating website, so telling the story this way made perfect sense.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/09/13/review-authentically-izzy-skymar-...

At just under 150 pages, this book was short but still so powerful!

The book is separated into 2 parts. The first part focuses on the main character, Takako, and her life working at the bookshop, which I found very charming and cute. If you‘re a bookworm and a bibliophile, this part will definitely resonate with you!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/08/30/review-days-at-the-morisaki-books...

As for the storyline, there really isn‘t much of a plot. It‘s more of a character study that serves as an origin story for Swamp Thing. If you‘re looking for an exciting superhero read, this book isn‘t it. The majority of the novel focuses on the twins and their relationship.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/08/29/review-swamp-thing/

It is so evident how well researched this book was. The book features one of the most comprehensive bibliographies I‘ve ever seen (it even includes unpublished works).

Florence was such a remarkable woman. I‘m in awe of all things she did and how she persevered through so much pain and suffering. I‘m so glad her story has finally been told.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/08/23/review-the-indomitable-florence-f...

Jane Eyre is one of my all time favorite books so naturally I was eager to read this. It did not disappoint!

The author did a fantastic job adapting the classic story to fit modern times. It was evident that the author really understood and appreciated the source material. The author did the original story justice and really captured the spirit of Jane Eyre.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/08/21/review-jane-edward/

I loved everything about this book!

This book is written by Carol Spencer, who was one of the Barbie fashion designers, and chronicles her tenure at Mattel. Prior to reading this book, I had no idea who she was. I enjoyed learning about her career and the behind the scenes look at how Barbie fashions were created and the process it took to make them.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/08/14/review-dressing-barbie/

I love that this book explores all of the main character‘s identities. Bobby is not only Filipino American, but also gay and lower income. He‘s also a huge comic book nerd. All of his identities intersect in a real and authentic way.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/07/31/review-chasing-pacquiao/

I absolutely adored this little book!

This book was written by Christian Dior in 1954 so naturally parts are outdated. For example, there is a lot of discussion on frocks.

That being said, there is still relevant advice. The overall theme of the book is elegance and accentuating what makes you look good, which is still useful in today‘s world.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/04/06/review-the-little-dictionary-of-f...

This was such a fun guide featuring the ladies of the Marvel Universe!

I am a huge Marvel fan so I knew I had to read this book. My all time favorite superhero is Squirrel Girl and she is included in this book.

Each hero gets about 4 pages dedicated to her; complete with a biography and fun facts. I loved that everyone got an equal amount of attention.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/03/22/review-powers-of-a-girl/

This book serves as a prequel to the Disney movie, Cinderella, and explores how Drizella and Anastasia became evil stepsisters.

The plot was well executed. The story is fairly basic, but it works. It highlights how the sisters weren‘t born being evil, they became evil.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/03/20/review-the-wicked-ones-dark-ascen...

The story centers on the classic fake dating trope, so a lot of it is predictable.

Everything about this book was super adorable and sweet. I loved all of Eliza and Caz‘s interactions. They really brought out the best in each other and most importantly, helped each other grow and develop.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/03/03/review-this-time-its-real/

This was such a magical read!

This book perfectly encapsulates the wonder and excitement of falling in love with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. It reminded me of just how enchanting the world of Narnia is and gave me a huge wave of nostalgia.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/02/16/review-once-upon-a-wardrobe/

This was such a fun read!

I love that the book focused on Meg instead of Hercules. Meg is one of my favorite Disney characters and is so underrated. This book not only gave Meg her own story, but also dove into her past and showed more of her relationship with Hercules that we didn‘t see in the movie.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/02/12/review-go-the-distance-twisted-ta...

This was a very insightful read!

What I liked the most about this book was how accessible it is. It‘s written in a very clear and concise way which makes it easy to follow and absorb.

The advice in the book is very practical and doable. Nothing feels out of reach or too hard to do. The anecdotes from real life people also make the advice more relatable.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/02/07/review-take-command/

What a fantastic follow up to the first book! I loved the first one and was not disappointed by its sequel.

This book picks up where the first one left off and is full of nonstop action and adventure. It is just as faced paced as the previous book.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/01/24/review-the-lady-of-the-mirrored-l...

What a luxurious book! But that is no surprise considering this is a book from the iconic brand, Hermès. I should expect nothing less from the fashion house.

The book is beautifully made. It has a gorgeous linen cover in the brand‘s iconic orange. The pages inside are so thick. I don‘t think I‘ve ever seen a book with pages this thick.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/01/06/review-heavenly-days/

This book took me by surprise (in a good way)!

I loved how fast paced the book was. There was never a dull moment. Sometimes fantasy books can take a while to get into the story, but this book dove right in. I was flipping through the pages just wanting to know what would happen next.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/12/28/review-the-wild-rose-and-the-sea-...

I was really impressed with this retelling! I know a lot of people take issue with the Twisted Tales Disney series because it follows the movie too closely, so I was worried that this new Disney Prince series would be similar. Fortunately, this book does add a lot more to the movie. Eric gets an entire backstory which gives him much more depth.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/10/07/review-prince-of-song-sea-princes...

I was very excited to read this book because I love the premise. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.

My main critique is that the book is too long. The book is roughly 370 pages, but could have been whittled down to around 300. The book is very light on events that drive the plot forward.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/09/28/review-blame-it-on-the-brontes/

Since this is an anthology, there is something for everyone. There is a lot of diversity from the types of women to their accomplishments. The art styles also vary! I enjoyed seeing all the different types of art. All the contributors are either female or nonbinary which adds to the inspiring narrative of the collection.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/09/24/review-wonderful-women-of-the-wor...

I loved the premise of the book, but it ultimately fell a little short of my expectations.

My main issue with the book is the pacing. It is very slow. Getting through the first half of the book was a struggle. Once I was about halfway through, the pace (luckily) picked up.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/09/23/review-bloomsbury-girls/

This was an informative book centering on three types of witches: the green witch, the kitchen witch, and the hedge witch. It discussed each type of witch and some of their particulars, like what tools they each use. The book also had an abundance of information on general witchcraft. For example, there is a chapter on purifying your home.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/09/20/review-backyard-witchcraft/

This book was quite the ride!

There was a good balance between the sexy and the more serious. The book delves deep into the main character and her journey of self discovery. It also heavily explores complex family dynamics. The main character‘s family is a piece of work to say the least!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/09/17/review-diary-of-a-contemporary-wo...

This book gave me goosebumps multiple times while reading it. I knew the Japanese occupation was harsh, but reading about the reality of it was something else. I‘m so glad that the book shed light on life under their occupation and didn‘t hold back on its depictions.

It is evident the author put in a tremendous amount of research in writing this story.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/09/09/review-angels-of-the-pacific/

Poetry is always a tricky genre to review because it is so subjective and can be interpreted in many ways. This was a beautifully written poetry collection, however, I didn‘t “get” it. The poems flowed very well, but I had a hard time grasping the meanings.

Part of the disconnect was due to the fact that I was not familiar with the mythology the poems explored.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/08/15/review-still-the-sky/

First off, I have always loved luxury goods, especially handbags so the premise of this book was right up my alley.

Plot-wise, the twist halfway through was so smart and I did not see it coming. As soon as I got to the twist, I thought to myself, “This book is brilliant.” I won‘t say much about the twist but I will say that it kept the book interesting.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/08/08/review-counterfeit/

If I could use one word to describe this book it would be cozy. It feels like such a comfort read, probably because the book is set during the fall/winter. It has those cozy vibes that makes you want to read this while curled up with a blanket and a hot beverage.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/06/20/review-fangirl-vol-2-fangirl-the-...

Wow! What a book! This was a dark retelling/reimagining of Peter Pan that managed to creep me out quite a bit. This book won‘t be everyone‘s cup of tea, but for me it worked.

I loved the dark take on Peter Pan. There is something inherently a little sinister about the original story and this book really delved into that.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/06/12/review-darling-girl/

This was a very absurd graphic novel. It was sort of insane, but that was the point. I found the whole story to be a bit strange and I didn‘t necessarily love it (nor did I completely hate it). It was just okay for me. I probably would have liked it better if I was more familiar with Miss Butterworth.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/06/06/review-miss-butterworth-and-the-m...

First off, I loved the first book in the series, Tokyo Ever After. It was one of my favorite books of 2021 which made me very excited to read the sequel. I still think that the first book was a tiny bit better, but for the most part I found the sequel to be a worthy successor.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/06/05/tokyo-dreaming-tokyo-ever-after-2...

What a fun and crazy ride! Action, adventure, delicious food, this manga had it all.

Since this manga is titled Crazy Food Truck, I have to talk about the food. The pictures of the food looked so yummy! It made me so hungry. I also loved the “recipes” included at the end of the book. That was a fun touch.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/06/02/review-crazy-food-truck-vol-1-cra...

I previously read one of the author‘s other books, Eva Evergreen, Semi Magical Witch, and absolutely loved it. I was very excited to read this one since it acts as a prequel to the Eva Evergreen books. Unfortunately, I didn‘t like this book as much as Eva Evergreen.

This is a Cinderella retelling and because of that, the book felt constrained plot wise.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/05/22/review-alliana-girl-of-dragons/

The premise is the classic romance trope, marriage of convenience. However, it takes places when the marriage of convenience is nearing its end, which is a cool twist to the trope. I found that twist very refreshing and it offered a unique perspective to the trope. I enjoyed seeing the main characters discover their true feelings for each other.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/05/15/review-know-you-by-heart-heart-re...

The poem was short yet so impactful. It beautifully highlighted the struggles of natural hair as well as the complexities of being Afro-Latinidad. It‘s personal, real, and authentic, which are all qualities I look for when reading poetry.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/05/08/review-inheritance/

This was such a simple and sweet story!

I loved the premise of the story. I enjoyed learning more about Indian culture, especially their wedding customs. I also liked that the book explored being “white-washed” and how it can make people feel disconnected towards their culture.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/04/30/review-sari-not-sari/

This book is pure genius!

This book is all 4 Avengers movies written as Shakespearen plays. It includes stage directions, a list of characters, and even full color illustrations (loved seeing the Avengers dressed Shakespearean style). All the iconic lines and scenes are translated perfectly.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/04/20/review-william-shakespeares-aveng...

The thing I love most about poetry is how personal it can be. This collection was the epitome of that. I could tell that every poem came from the heart.

I really liked the water theme that was woven throughout the poems. It made the collection very cohesive.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/04/12/review-far-from-the-shallow/

This was a really cute My Fair Lady retelling! I have seen My Fair Lady, but it was a while ago so I didn‘t pick up on any of the references to it. If you‘re a fan of the movie I‘m sure you would appreciate those references.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/04/04/review-my-fine-fellow/

This book had such a great premise. I love gothic novels, however, the execution could have been better.

The book started off strong. The book held steady until the last 1/3. The story seemed to be losing its momentum by that point. By the end, I felt let down. I was expecting a big reveal or twist but nothing shocked me or made me have an “aha” moment.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/03/24/review-tripping-arcadia/

This book explores the history of romantic comedies. Each chapter is dedicated to a different movie, with an essay in between exploring different rom-com actors.

The selection of movies and actors were a good mix. I liked that it discussed non-white rom-coms (Waiting To Exhale) and rom-coms about older women (Something‘s Gotta Give).

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/03/13/review-from-hollywood-with-love/