Book Review: Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

Title: Grown

Author: Tiffany D. Jackson

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Contemporary

Pages: 384

Publisher: Quill Tree Books

Year Published: 2020

Format: Paperback (Own It)

"Author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another ripped-from-the-headlines mystery that exposes horrific secrets hiding behind the limelight and embraces the power of a young woman's voice. When legendary R&B artist Korey Fields spots Enchanted Jones at an audition, her dreams of being a famous singer take flight. Until Enchanted wakes up with blood on her hands and zero memory of the previous night. Who killed Korey Fields? Before there was a dead body, Enchanted's dreams had turned into a nightmare. Because behind Korey's charm and star power was a controlling dark side. Now he's dead, the police are at the door, and all signs point to Enchanted."

My Rating: 5/5

Once again, Tiffany D. Jackson comes in with a home run of a book. I have loved every book I've read by her. It's the realness that you can see shining through the mystery/thrilling elements. It's the reality of the characters' lives; it's the twists and turns, etc. It's the storytelling. The ability to show the faults in our society and our current state in a way that gives hope for the future. It's the twists, the turns, and the shock that I'm always left sitting with as I binge-read the last 50 pages. I can't wait to read the next book by this author. 

Sidny

Book Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Title: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Author: V.E. Schwab

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance

Pages: 448

Publisher: Tor Books

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"A life no one will remember. A story you will never forget.

France, 1714: In a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever- and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world. But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name."

My Rating: 5/5

I have been waiting to read this book for some odd reason, so after a friend mentioned it again recently, I got my library hold in. This novel was more than I imagined it could be. The changing timeline, the plot points, the twists, the turns, and the characters were all amazing. I enjoyed the audiobook, but I would be curious to read it physically as well, so I could get a better grip on the timelines. The writing was amazing, and I look forward to reading other work by the author.

Sidny

Book Review: The Smiling Land: All Around the Circle in My Newfoundland and Labrador

Title: The Smiling Land: All Around the Circle in My Newfoundland and Labrador

Author: Alan Doyle

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Travel, Canada

Pages: 264

Publisher: Doubleday Canada

Year Published: 2025

Format: Audiobook

"From one of Canada's most beloved and celebrated Newfoundlanders comes a rollicking insider's guide to the province, told as only Alan Doyle can tell it.

Few Canadian musicians or authors are as synonymous with their home province as Alan Doyle is with Newfoundland. And now Alan wants to introduce the rest of the world to his home, taking readers on a freewheeling, eclectic trip through the province. From Fogo island to the Southwest Coast, Labrador to Ferryland and everywhere in-between, Alan's Newfoundland awaits.

There are plenty of stops along the way to admire the sites and take in the history and culture. Among the stops, a discussion of Newfoundland's eccentric place names, which include Horse Chops Island, Bread and Cheese Cove, and the (in)famous, Dildo. There are visits to wind-swept coastlines and towering crags, former Beothuk, Viking and Basque settlements, as well as more recent settlements, such as Foley's Shed, a jaunty live-music pub that- as its name suggests, happens to be located in some guy named Foley's shed. There are savvy insider tips, such as how to score fish and chips and a free ride by hopping into the delivery person's car as they deliver your food to your desired destination. And what tour of Alan's Newfoundland could be complete without a short history of what can best be described as 'icebregs that look like things,' an illustrious history that includes an exact replica of the Virgin Mary that once washed into St. John's harbour, and the most recent- and ar less holy- 'Dickie Berg,' which made international headlines for looking like... well, not the Virgin Mary."

My Rating: 5/5

This is the third book I've read by Alan Doyle, and boy, I wish I had read it before my trip to Newfoundland last year. This year my in-laws took a trip and they had read the book. My mother-in-law recommended it, and I loved every moment. Given the opportunity, I would love to follow this book around the circle to explore Newfoundland, which is such a special place. 

Sidny

Book Review: The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey

Title: The Au Pair Affair

Author: Tessa Bailey

Series/Standalone: Big Shots Series (Book #2)

Genre: Romance, Sports, Contemporary, Adult Fiction 

Pages: 384

Publisher: Avon

Year Published: 2024

Format: Audiobook

"A sports rom-com about a burly, surly, single dad who falls head-over-hockey-stick for his quirky live-in nanny...

Tallulah is smart, vivacious and studying to be a marine biologist. She's also twenty-six and broke. So when Burgess, a battle-scarred hockey veteran and newly single dad, offers her a job as his live-in nanny, she jumps at the opportunity to get paid while living in a super fancy neighborhood and being around Lissa, his cool but introverted tween.

Her tween charge isn't the only one who could use some help fitting in, though. According to... well, everyone except Burgess, he needs to get back on the dating scene, and adventurous Tallulah is just the girl to show him how. But as boundaries are slowly crossed and Burgess finds himself pulled between his daughter, who wants her parents back together, and his insane chemistry with Tallulah, a huge rift is formed, and Tallulah does the "right" thing- breaks her own heart and walks away.

Though Burgess knows it's for the best- he's too jaded, with too much baggage- a chance meeting, and a new push from his daughter, forces him to put everything on the line and fight to prove he learned his lessons well and is worthy of a happily ever after with Tallulah."

My Rating: 5/5

I found this second book in the series far more to my liking than the first one. Could that be because it was hockey rather than golf? Maybe. Could it be because it was a single dad? Definitely. While there was one instance I wasn't a huge fan of, overall I loved the book. The smut was well written, the characters were dynamic and interesting and the plot had stakes.

Sidny

Book Review: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Title: Yesteryear

Author: Caro Claire Burke

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Satire

Pages: 400

Publisher: Knopf

Year Published: 2026

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

"My name was Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive.

Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle. Her charming farmhouse is rustic, her husband a handsome cowboy, her six children each more delightful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers behind the scenes, her kitchen hiding industrial-grade fridges and ovens, her husband the heir to a political dynasty? What Natalie's followers- all 8 million of them- don't know won't hurt them. And The Angry Women? The privileged, Ivy League, coastal elite haters who call her an antifeminist iconoclast? They're sick with jealousy. Because Natalie isn't simply living the good life, she's living the ideal- and just so happens to be building an empire from it. 

Until one morning she wakes up in a life that isn't hers. Her home, her husband, her children- they're all familiar, but something's off. Her kitchen is warmed by a sputtering fire rather than electricity, her children are dirty and strange, and her soft-handed husband is suddenly a competent farmer. Just yesterday Natalie was curating photos of homemade jam for her Instagram, and now she's expected to haul firewood and handwash clothes until her fingers bleed. Has she become the unwitting star of a ruthless reality show? Could it really be time travel? Is she being tested by God? By Satan? When Natalie suffers a brutal injury in the woods, she realizes two things: This is not her beautiful life, and she must escape by any means possible.

A gripping, electrifying novel that is as darkly funny as it is frightening. Yesteryear is a gimlet-eyed look at tradition, fame, faith, and the grand performance of womanhood."

My Rating: 5/5

This is one of those books that has changed me. We follow our main character, Natalie, who is what most would describe as a Trad Wife Influencer. On her farm, which she definitely paid for by herself and runs only with her family (except for that she doesn't). One day she wakes up in a world she doesn't recognize. Things are similar, but not the same. Her house is hers but also not (all signs of modern technology/advancements). I had heard about this book everywhere: social media, bookstores, my friends on Goodreads. EVERYWHERE. I thought to myself, how good could it really be? It was great, one of those books that you know will change you. I'm gonna be thinking about all the messaging, the uncomfortable and obvious, the hidden and more. 

Sidny

Book Review: 107 Days by Kamala Harris

Title: 107 Days

Author: Kamala Harris

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Politics, Adult
Pages: 304

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Year Published: 2025

Format: Audiobook

"For the first time, and with surprising and revealing insights, Kamala Harris tells the story of one of the wildest and most consequential presidential campaigns in American history.

Your Secret Service code name is Pioneer.

You are the first woman in history to be elected vice president of the United States. 

On July 21st, 2024, youre running mate, Joe Biden, announces that he will not be seeking reelection. 

The presidential election will occur on November 5th, 2024.

You have 107 days.

Written with candor, a unique perspective, and the pace of a page-turning novel, 107 Days takes you inside the race for the presidency as no one has ever done before."

My Rating: 5/5

As a Canadian, I am always interested when I hear about American politics, as a close neighbour AND A SEPARATE COUNTRY (no 51st state here), I wonder how a two-party political system benefits people. How do you decide who you stand with. What if the right, as it is now, is too far right, and the left is learning a way you maybe also don't agree with? Where is the middle ground? And how in the world did Americans not turn out for a vote that will have a forever impact on their country, their homes, their lives and the lives of their children? I can't claim to understand. But seeing some of the behind-the-scenes sparked my curiosity.  A reminder to Americans that we are not your enemy, we are your neighbours, your allies, but don't poke the bear. 

SIdny

Book Review: Over the Influence by Joanna "JoJo" Levesque

Title: Over the Influence

Author: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Biography, Nonfiction, Adult

Pages: 341

Publisher: Da Capo

Year Published: 2024

Format: Audiobook

"Signed to a major recording deal at just 12 years old, JoJo catapulted to the top of the pop-and-R&B-infused charts in the mid 2000's. The relatability of her youth and appeal of her cool-girl mystique earned her millions of fans around the world. JoJo was an undeniable superstar and pop culture fixture, spanning roles in major studio films, omnipresence on Top 40 radio, frequenting magazine covers, and appearing on national TV. Then, out of the blue, everything came to a halt and JoJo seemingly stepped out of the spotlight, leaving many fans to wonder What happened to JoJo?

In OVER THE INFLUENCE, JoJo holds nothing back as she brings her against-the-odds story of adversity and triumph to center stage. From being raised by parents who were both battling addiction and depression, to emerging victorious in a never ending lawsuit with her record lable, to putting the fragmented pieces of herself together after a maddening period of rebellion and self-betrayal, she takes the reader through turbulent years that led her to where she is releasing new music under her own imprint, pperforming in shows and festivals around the world, headlining a Broadway show, and beyond. In this raw, behind-the-scenes look at her life, both personal and professional, JoJo's unflinching vulnerability allows readers to connect with her on a whole new level through stories of success, heartbreak, redemption and resilience."

My Rating: 5/5

As someone who was growing up in JoJo's era of music, I was always curious what happened to her, but I figured that maybe the spotlight was not what she wanted, and I hoped that if that was the case, she was happy just being a normal teen/ adult later in her life. Learning that that was far from the case came as a surprise to me. This book really covers the inner workings of the music industry, a look at the 2000s teen fame industry and what it means to really work through our parents' demons. Being able to break generational curses/traumas is a big theme in this novel, so if you're not on board with that, I wouldn't recommend it, but as someone who understands that on another level, it felt like I was seen. JoJo manages to do all this, but still keeps humour in the story. Truly remarkable, and I look forward to seeing what comes next from her. 

Sidny

Book Review: All Together Now by Alan Doyle

Title: All Together Now

Author: Alan Doyle

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Adult

Pages: 200

Publisher: Doubleday Canada

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"One of Newfoundland's funniest and most beloved storytellers offers his cure for the Covid blues.

Is there a more sociable province than Newfoundland and Labrador? Or anywhere in Canada with a greater reputation for coming to the rescue of those in need?

At this time of Covid, singer, songwriter and bestselling author Alan Doyle is feeling everyone's pain. off the road and spending more days at home than he has since he was a child hawking cod tongues on the wharfs of Petty Harbour, he misses the crowds and companionship of performing across the country and beyond. But most of all, he misses the cheery clamour of pubs in his hometown, where one yarn follows another so quickly you have to be as ready as an Olympian at the start line to get your tale in before someone is well into theirs already. We're all experiencing our own version of that deprivation, and Alan, one of Newfoundland's finest storytellers, wants to offer a little balm. 

All Together Now is a gathering book form- a virtual Newfoundland pub. There are adventures in foreign lands, including an apparently filthy singalong in Polish (well, he would have sung along if he'd understood the language), a real-life ghost story involving an elderly neighbour, a red convertible and a clown horn, a potted history of his social drinking and heartwarming reminiscences from another past world, childhood- all designed to put a smile on the faces of the isolated-addled."

My Rating: 5/5

I think that even years after Covid has left us less isolated but still changed as a society, this book still reads perfectly. This brought many laughs, smiles and just general giggles. I would highly recommend Alan Doyle's books to everyone. If you're looking for great storytelling, a laugh and just a general good outlook, you've found the author for you.

Sidny

Book Review: RE: Trailer Trash Vol. 1

Title: RE: Trailer Trash Vol. 1

Author: Alyssa Villaire & Yishan Li

Series/Standalone: RE:Trailer Trash (Book #1)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Adult Fiction

Publisher: Vault Comics

Pages: 256

Year Published: 2026

Format: Paperback Copy (Library) 

"DO OVER. DO BETTER.

Tabitah Moore has lived a miserable life and being treated as "Trailer Trash Tabitha." But, after a mishap with an MRI, her mind is sent back to 1998 and into her 16-year-old-body. With her life now in front of her, maybe this is the chance to redo her life!

But is it so easy to change what you already lived through?

From the bestselling Webtoon Original, RE: Trailer Trash!

Sometimes all you need is a second chance."

My Rating: 5/5

This was a really great graphic novel to read in one sitting. I didn't realize at first it was a webtoon comic at all but it makes alot of sense. I look forward to reading the next installment. I also enjoyed the art style, the premise, etc. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Title: Book Lovers

Author: Emily Henry

Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult Fiction, 

Pages: 377

Publisher: Berkley

Year Published: 2022

Format: Paperback Copy (Own it)

"One summer. Two rivals. A plot they didn't see coming...

Nora Stephen's life is books- she's read them all- and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she land enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, for the month of August when Libby begs her sister for a sisters' trip away- with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she's convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they've met many times and it's never been cute.

If Nora knows she's not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he's nobody's hero, but as they are thrown together again and again- in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow- what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they've written about themselves."

My Rating: 5/5

I'm slowly working my way through Emily Henry's work and some people are not the biggest fan of this one which is surprising to me. What's not to love, a sibling dynamic that is loving boarding on toxic, a love interest that fully understands the black cat energy. A small town, where they're expected to be excited about, but admit to themselves they love a space that many people don't stick around in. I felt that this is my second favorite of her work, coming in just behidn People We Meet on Vacation. Can't wait to read more.

Sidny

Book Review: The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold

Title: The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper

Author: Hallie Rubenhold

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, History, True Crime

Pages: 352

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Year Published: 2019

Format: Audiobook

"Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Catherine and Mary-Jane are famous for the same thing, though they never met. They came from Fleet Street, Knightsbridge, Wolverhampton, Sweden and Wales. They wrote ballads, ran coffee houses, lived on country estates, they breathed ink-dust from printing presses and escaped people-traffickers.

What they had in common was the year of their murders: 1888.

Their murderer was never identified, but the name created for him by the press has become far more famous than any of these five women.

In this devastating narrative of five lives, historian Hallie Rubenhold finally gives these women back their stories."

My Rating: 5/5

This was a different take on everything I'd heard about this story. Learning about the victims, their lives and how their lives were misconstrued due to the white male Victorian gaze. The fact that these women's lives were scandalized, and misrepresented. The idea that people who were down on their luck were all prostitutes has prevailed in the current narrative, and it's still believed. While it was depressing and sad, it was also informative and made me wonder what else has been plastered over with the historical view of the times.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Woman, Life, Freedom

Title: Woman, Life, Freedom

Authors: Marjane Satrapi, Abbas Milani, Jean-Pierre Perrin, Farid Vahid, Shervin Hajipour

Illustrators: Shabnam Adiban, Baharek Akrami, Bee, Patricia Bolanos, Catel, Coco, Deloupy, Hippolyte, Mana Neyestani, Touka Neyestani, Pascal Rabate, Paco Roca, Joann Sfar, Lewis Trondheim, Nicolas Wild, Winshluss, 

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Graphic Novel, Nonfiction

Pages: 272

Publisher: Seven Stories Press

Year Published: 2023

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"An urgent, groundbreaking and visually stunning new collection of graphic story-telling about the present Iranian revolution, using comics to show what would be censored in photos and film in Iran.

Marjane Satrapi, author of Persepolis, returns to graphic art with this collaboration of over 20 activists, artists, journalists, and academics working together to depict the historic uprising, in solidarity with the Iranian people and in defense of feminism. 

On September 13th, 2022, a young Iranian student, Mahsa Amini, was arrested by the religious police in Tehran. Her only crime was that she wasn't properly wearing the headscarf required for women by the Islamic Republic. At the police station, she was beaten so badly she had to be taken to the hospital, where she fell into a deep coma. She died three days later. 

A wave of protests soon spread through the whole country, and crowds adopted the slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom"- words that have been chanted around the world during solidarity rallies.

In order to tell the story of this major revolution happening in her homeland, Marjane Satrapi has gathered together an array of journalists, activists, academics, artists, and writers from around the world to create this powerful collection of full-colour, graphic-novel-style essays and perspectives that bear witness.

Woman, Life, Freedom demonstrates that this is not an unexpected movement, but a major uprising in a long history of women who have wanted to affirm their rights. It will continue."

My Rating: 5/5

This graphic novel is full of, as the description states, essay-style segments that help the reader understand the uprising, the reasoning, as well as parts of the history of Iran. As someone who doesn't know much about the country and who grew up without watching a lot of the news, I was unaware of many of the subjects that were covered during this novel. It was enlightening and surprising to see how much this drew to another book I had read recently in another dictatorship (Romania in I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys) and over 30 years later. It's disappointing to know that this movement didn't necessarily continue, but rather had to be shifted in order to keep resistors safe (that being said, I could be wrong due to my limited knowledge and research). Woman, Life, Freedom. 

Sidny

Book Review: A Newfoundlander in Canada: Always Going Somewhere, Always Coming Home by Alan Doyle

Title: A Newfoundlander in Canada

Author: Alan Doyle

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography, Canada

Pages: 244

Publisher: Doubleday Canada

Year Published: 2017

Format: Audiobook

"Armed with the same personable, candid style found in his first book, Alan Doyle turns his perspective outward from Petty Harbour toward mainland Canada, reflecting on what it was like to venture away from the comforts of home and the familiarity of the island.

Often in a van, sometimes in a bus, occasionally in a car with broken wipers, "using Bob's belt and a rope found by Paddy's Pond" to pull them back and forth, Alan and his bandmates charted new territory, and he constantly measured what he saw of the vast country against what his forefathers once called the Daemon Canada. In a period punctuated by triumphant leaps forward for the band, deflating steps backwards and everything in between- opening for Barney the Dinosaur at an outdoor music festival, being propositioned at a gas station mail-order bride service in Alberta, drinking moonshine with an elderly church-goer on a Sudny morning in PEI- Alan's few established notions about Canada were often debunked and his own identity as a Newfoundlander was constantly challenged. Touring the country, he also discovered how others view Newfoundlanders and how skewed these images can sometimes be. Asked to play in front of the Queen at a massive Canada Day festival on Parliament Hill, the concert organizers assured Alan and his bandmates that the best way to showcase Newfoundland culture was for them to be towed onto stage in a dory and introduced not as Newfoundlanders but as 'Newfiers'. The boys were not amused.

Heartfelt, funny and always insightful, these stories tap into the complexities of community and Canadianness, forming the portrait of a young man from a tiny fishing village trying to define and hold on to his sense of home while navigating a vast and diverse and wonder-filled country."

My Rating: 5/5

As a Canadian, I've listened to a decent amount of Great Big Sea, but I didn't realize that Alan Doyle has so many books. The audiobook of this was amazing as it was narrated by the author, so you get the full accent, the full amazing storytelling ability of Alan Doyle. I loved the content, the writing, and mostly the humour. I look forward to reading more from the author. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena

Title: Everyone Here is Lying

Author: Shari Lapena

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Adult Fiction

Pages: 336

Publisher: Random House

Year Published: 2023

Format: Audiobook

"Welcome to Stanhope. A safe neighborhood. A place for families.

William Wooler is a family man, on the surface. But he's been having an affair, an affair that ended horribly this afternoon at a motel up the road. So when he returns to his house, devastated and angry, to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter, Avery, unexpectedly home from school, William loses her temper.

Hours later, Avery's family declares her missing.

Suddenly Stanhope doesn't feel so safe. And William isn't the only one on his street who's hiding a lie.  As witnesses come forward with information that may or may not be true, Avery's neighbors become increasingly unhinged.

Who took Avery Wooler?

Nothing will prepare you for the truth."

My Rating: 5/5

I binged the audiobook of this, and it was addicting. I could not stop listening to it. The good news is that means I got a lot done today. I don't believe that I have read anything else by this author, but you can bet that there was a lot that was added to my TBR. The characters are interesting, the writing is fast-paced, and the mystery is fascinating. Would recommend. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

Title: A Dowry of Blood

Author: S.T. Gibson

Series/Standalone: Vampire Companion Series (Book #1)

Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Retelling, Adult

Pages: 292

Publisher: Indie Published (Redhook)

Year Published: 2021

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

"S.T. Gibson's sensational novel is the darkly seductive tale of Dracula's first bride, Constanta. 

This is my last love letter to you, though some would call it a confession...

Saved from the brink of death by a mysterious stranger, Constanta is transformed from a medieval peasant into a bride fit for an undying king. But when Dracula draws a cunning aristocrat and a starving artist into his web of passion and deceit, Constanta realizes that her beloved is capable of terrible things.

Finding comfort in the arms of her rival consorts, she begins to unravel their husband's dark secrets. With the lives of everyone she loves on the line, Constanta will have to choose between her own freedom and her love for her husband. But bonds forged by blood can only be broken by death."

My Rating: 5/5

I loved this. I wasn't expecting to absolutely love it! The whole time it's been on my shelf, I was so focused on the fact that it was horror, I wasn't thinking about how well the writing could work. How the story could really grab me, and the parallels it could draw to other abusive relationships. The symbolism was incredible, and the pacing was fantastic. I can't wait to read more by the author.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: Carrie Soto is Back

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Series/Standalone: Reidverse (Book #5)

Genre: Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Sports, Adult Fiction

Pages: 384

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook (Library Copy)

"Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular.

By the time Carrie retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Slam titles. And if you ask her, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach.

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stand of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning, British player named Nicki Chan.

At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked the 'Battle-Axe' anyways. Even if her body doesn't move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever. 

In spite of it all: Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells a story about the cost of greatness and a legendary athlete attempting a comeback."

My Rating: 5/5

I love Taylor Jenkins Reid's Reidverse. The way these imagined celebrities feel so real, the way they have such individual personalities, but feel so real to the time and our world. I feel sad sometimes that I can't look up more information about where they would be now. Carrie Soto is far from likeable. That is made clear from the beginning, but as the story goes on, you grow to love her as she is. The determined, unrelenting and resilient athlete she is. The way she copes in her life through all of it, despite what everyone things, inspite what everyone thinks. I hope her next corner is all the better, and I wonder if Taylor Jenkins Reid will add to these stories.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano

Title: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave

Author: Elle Cosimano

Series/Standalone: Finlay Donovan Series (Book #5)

Genre: Adult Fiction, Cozy, Mystery

Pages: 309

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Year Published: 2025

Format: Audiobook

"Finlay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet... but at least there's not a body in her backyard.

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay's elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go... except Finlay's house, right across the street.

Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case- or sacrificing either of her bedrooms. After all, they've dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime, and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else.

When the focus of the investigation widens to include Finlay's ex-husband Steven, though, Finlay and Vero are left with little choice but to get closer to Mrs. Haggerty and uncover her secrets... before the police start digging up theirs. But who will solve the mystery first?"

My Rating: 5/5

This was by far my favourite book in the series. I have to give most of the credit to Mrs. Haggerty's character and the use of women-led groups. The character growth between books is also noticeable. With a cast of incredibly lovable characters, a mystery that feels intriguing without being terrifying and a toddler who just won't keep his pants on, who could ask for more? 

Sidny

Book Review: Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline

Title: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson

Author: Tourmaline

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography, LGBT History

Pages: 306

Publisher: 

Year Published: 2025

Format: Audiobook (Library Copy)

"Black transgender luminary Tourmaline brings to life the first definitive biography of revolutionary activist Marsha P. Johnson, one of the most important and remarkable figures in LGBTQIA+ history, revealing her story, her impact, and her legacy.

'She is the preeminent and foremost scholar on Marsha P. Johnson... To us, Tourmaline is the expert.' - Janet Mock, Allure.

"Thank god the revolution has begun, honey.' Rumor has it that after Marsha P. Johnson threw the first brick in the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, she picked up a shard of broken mirror to fix her makeup. Marsha, a legendary Black transgender activist, embodied both the beauty and struggle of the early gay rights movement. Her work sparked the progress we see today, yet there has never been a definitive record of her life. Until now. 

Written with sparkling prose, Tourmaline's richly researched biography Marsha finally brings this iconic figure to life, in full color. We vividly meet Marsha as both an activist and artist. She performed with RuPaul and with internationally renowned drag troupe The Hot Peaches. She was a muse to countless artists from Andy Warhol to the band Earth, Wind & Fire. And she continues to inspire people today. 

Marsha didn't wait to be freed; she declared herself free and told the world to catch up. Her story promises to inspire readers to live as their most liberated, unruly, vibrant and whole selves."

My Rating: 5/5

I think that as we start to rediscover history, we will find more and more of what has been whitewashed and hidden away. People who society at that time deemed undeserving of having their stories told, people who truly led revolutions, and impacted society greatly, but due to any amount of diversity were erased from their own narrative. 

This appears to be the case of Marsha P. Johnson. While I am a white, cis woman who is starting her journey in reading more historical nonfiction, I would say that I am learning more and more about just how often this has happened. While I can't change the actions of the past, I can acknowledge the horrors and injustices and do better going forward. Part of doing better is learning, learning about things that are cut out from school, past histories and more. I think this book is incredibly important to read, as we watch documentaries about this time to gain a better understanding of the freedoms and world we see today. The work is far from over, but understanding the buildup in history helps us fight tomorrow's battles. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Internment by Samina Ahmed

Title: Internment

Author: Samina Ahmed

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Realistic Fiction

Pages: 386

Publisher: Little, Brown Books

Year Published: 2019

Format: Audiobook

"Rebellions are built on hope.

Set in a horrifying near-future United States, seventeen-year-old Layla Amin and her parents are forced into an internment camp for Muslim American citizens.

With the help of newly made friends also trapped within the internment camp, her boyfriend on the outside and an unexpected alliance, Layla begins a journey to fight for freedom, leading a revolution against the internment camp's Director and his guards.

Heart-racing and emotional, Internment challenges readers to fight complicit silence that exists in our society today."

My Rating: 5/5

This had been on my tbr for a while, and when my hold came up on Libby, I decided now was as good a time as any to read it. I recalled hearing that some people felt this was unrealistic, and for those people, I have news: read this now and tell me it doesn't ring true to a lot of things going on in America currently. There were interactions that felt a little unrealistic, but it doesn't change anything about the plot line itself. I would recommend it definetly is reading less dystopian, and more realistic fiction as time goes on. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum by Antonia Hylton

Title: Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum

Author: Antonia Hylton

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, History, Race, Mental Health

Pages: 368

Publisher: Legacy Lit

Year Published: 2024

Format: Audiobook 

"On a cold day in March of 1911, officials marched twelve Black men into the heart of a forest in Maryland. Under the supervision of a doctor, the men were forced to clear the land, pour cement, lay bricks, and harvest tobacco. When construction finished, they became the first twelve patients of the state's Hospital for the Negro Insane. For centuries, Black patients have been absent from our history books. Madness transports readers behind the brick walls of a Jim Crow asylum.

In Madness, Peabody and Emmy award-winning journalist Antonia Hylton tells the 93 year-old history of Crownsville Hospital, one of the last segregated asylums with surviving records and a campus that still stands to this day in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. She blends the intimate tales of patients and employees whose lives were shaped by Crownsville with a decade's worth of investigative research and archival documents. Madness chronicles the stories of Black families whose mental health suffered as they tried, and sometimes failed, to find safety and dignity. Hylton also grapples with her own family's experiences with mental illness, and the secrecy and shame that it reproduced for generations.

As Crownsville Hospital grew from an antebellum-style work camp to a tiny city sitting over 1,500 acres, the instituation ebcame a microcosm of America's evolving battles over slavery, racial integration and civils rights. During its peak years, the hospital's wards were overflowing with almost 2,700 patients. By the end of the 20th- century, the asylum faded from view as prisons and jails became America's new focus.

In Madness, Hylton traces the legacy of slavery to the treatment of Black people's bodies and minds in our current mental healthcare systems. It is a captivating and heartbreaking mediation on how America decides who is sick or criminal and who is worthy of our care or irredeemable."

My Rating: 5/5

As intense as this book is, I feel it is incredibly important to learn about. How race impacts healthcare and how prejudice affects the care that is offered for individuals. It also made some valid points. Did we stop institutions just to move people into a box and criminalize their mental health? The idea that the same symptoms in a white patient vs a black patient, even now results in such different care or lack thereof, is crazy to me. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny