Recent Reads #26

Previously, I renamed ‘Weekly’ Wrap-Ups to Recent Reads, as I feel like that reflects the timescale between posts more accurately!

As ever, today I will briefly reviewing all the books I’ve read since my last post in approximately fifty words. This post also explains my concept of ‘The Chosen Ones’ to highlight my favourite books in each post!

1. Wicked Fox by Kat Cho ⭐️ 💙🧠

This was the first book that I’ve read that’s filled with Korean mythology, but I’m certainly hoping that it won’t be the last! I really liked the dual narrative and how it helped me connect more with Gu and Jihoon, following them as they develop and show the depths of their interesting personalities. That epilogue has definitely left me wanting more! Four stars.

2. The Secret History by Donna Tartt 🧠

God, I love this book. Richard is such a fascinating narrator and I love how Tartt pulls the reader along with the group’s gradual descent into madness, knowing all the while that you can never fully trust what you’re reading. Delectably dark and flowing prose that reveals even more secrets upon a re-read. Four and a half stars.

3. The Grace Year by Kim Liggett 🧠

This was everything I enjoy: writing that’s both lyrical and insidiously unnerving, plenty of feminism and a complex protagonist that errs on the side of unreliable. The best way to describe this claustrophobic, tension-filled book would be as a cross between Lord of the Flies and The Handmaid’s Tale – if that doesn’t convince you to read it, then I don’t know what will! My only problem was that I just wasn’t that invested in the romance that develops. Four and a half stars.

4. All The Invisible Things by Orlagh Collins 🏳️‍🌈 🧠⭐️

It was so good to see a bisexual character within YA finding themselves and challenging some of the prejudices around that identity. However, this wasn’t the only issue in this tender, deeply compassionate and realistic story about navigating identity, revisiting old friendships and family. Four stars.

I am currently giving away a copy of this book on my Twitter!

5. Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore ⭐️ 🏳️‍🌈 💙🧠

McLemore just entrances me with her beautifully flowery, lyrical writing that cuts deep on the topics of family, heritages and identity. It’s entered around reclaiming your story, appropriate for a gorgeous retelling of a lesser known fairytale entered around sisterly devotion. I really loved how organic the relationships and plot developments felt; nothing ever seemed forced. Four and a half stars.

6. A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa B Sheinmel 🧠

Sheinmel has created an engaging story that had me hooked from the first page. I really enjoyed exploring Hannah’s fractured mind and her seemingly utterly unreliable narrative added a degree of ambiguity and uneasiness to the story. This is a carefully crafted character study of a compelling and complex person and their struggles with mental illness. Four stars.

7. The Beautiful by Renée Adhieh

I really loved this lush, gorgeously written vampire renaissance in New Orleans. Full review here. Four stars.