books – World of Bai

Book Review: “If We Were Villains” By M.L. Rio

I have owned this book for probably three years. It has been sitting on my shelf taunting me everyday since I purchased it. My best friend has been suggesting I pick it up for even longer than that it seems, so it was about time that I finally pulled this book down and flipped through its pages.

“For someone who loved words as much as I did, it was amazing how often they failed me.”
M.L. Rio, If We Were Villains

About The Book

Author: M.L. Rio

Publisher: FlatIron Books

Published Date: April 11th, 2017

Page Count: 354 Pages

Main Genre: Dark Academia

GoodReads Rating: 4.09

Format: Audio/Physical

“You can justify anything if you do it poetically enough.”
M.L. Rio, If We Were Villains

Synopsis

Oliver Marks has just served ten years in jail – for a murder he may or may not have committed. On the day he’s released, he’s greeted by the man who put him in prison. Detective Colborne is retiring, but before he does, he wants to know what really happened a decade ago.

As one of seven young actors studying Shakespeare at an elite arts college, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingenue, extra. But when the casting changes, and the secondary characters usurp the stars, the plays spill dangerously over into life, and one of them is found dead. The rest face their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, and themselves, that they are blameless.

Synopsis From GoodReads

Rating

Review

I desperately wanted to rate this book higher than I did, however, I feel as if this was the rating the book was going to receive no matter what.

The main reason I had put this book off for so long was because I knew it was going to have a lot of Shakespeare texts and underlying meanings that would frankly, go right over my head. This, I was not wrong about. But with context clues I could gather little snippets here and there which I was honestly proud about.

If I were to be completely honest with you I didn’t really love any of our characters. I feel as if they were all very flawed. I can see why the author wrote them this way for the plot but I needed someone to want to cheer for to keep my interest piqued. This is honestly more of a poor reflection on me rather than the text though.

While I may have not loved the characters I did find James at least partly interesting, especially as we neared the end of the book. I feel as if his character had the most growth or shall I say decent into madness? He didn’t feel as one note as most of the other characters and knowing the ending of the book I can see why his character interested me so much.

I felt as if the beginning and end of the book moved quickly but the middle drug out for me. I can understand the importance of the plot line here but It made me struggle to want to pick the book up other than the fact that I wanted to know the truth much like Colborne. If the pacing had picked up a bit in the middle I could have seen this book getting a bit of a higher rating from me.

I hope to re read this book one day in the future, maybe with a bit more of an appreciation for Shakespearean texts as I think this book could mean so much more to me with just an inkling of an understanding of his work. The book has the potential to only grow in ratings with the more I read it.

“But that is how a tragedy like ours or King Lear breaks your heart—by making you believe that the ending might still be happy, until the very last minute.”
M.L. Rio, If We Were Villains

QOTD: Do you have a love for Shakespeare? If so where would you point someone new to the topic to start?

Book Review: “Project Hail Mary” By Andy Weir

This book is one that is typically out of my comfort zone so I am shocked at how fast I finished this. I literally devoured this book in one sitting, no joke. I remember seeing the popularity of this book over the past few years but was truly never drawn to it so I am thankful a movie is coming out as I knew my husband will want to watch it but I couldn’t go until I had read the book, or at least tried to.

“Human beings have a remarkable ability to accept the abnormal and make it normal.”
Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary

About The Book

Author: Andy Weir

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Published Date: May 4th, 2021

Page Count: 476 Pages

Main Genre: Science FIction

GoodReads Rating: 4.50

Format: Audio Book

“Usually you not stupid. Why stupid, question?”
Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary

Synopsis

A LONE ASTRONAUT.
AN IMPOSSIBLE MISSION.
AN ALLY HE NEVER IMAGINED.

RYLAND GRACE is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and Earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.

Or does he?

An irresistible interstellar adventure as only Andy Weir could imagine it, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian—while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

Synopsis From GoodReads

“Once again I’m struck by melancholy. I want to spend the rest of my life studying Eridian biology! But I have to save humanity first. Stupid humanity. Getting in the way of my hobbies.”
Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary

Rating

Review

To start this review I would like to tell you that the audio book is fantastic and I would highly recommend reading this book via that format. I have heard that the Audible version is the preferred Audio book platform for this book though so keep that in mind.

* Mild spoilers may be ahead *

As this audio book started playing I wasn’t convinced that this book was for me. I struggled to connect to our main character for the first chapter or two. But as the book progressed and we got a peak into his background I quickly fell in love with the story. Our main character was unreliable because frankly he couldn’t remember a single thing. I thought this was a really interesting way to discover who this man was and his motives for being in this situation he has found himself in.

Rocky was my favorite addition to this book. Him being added made this story really touch my heart and at times made me shed some tears. The relationship built between these two characters was really touching and I loved the way that it built over time. The fact that they learned how to communicate with one another was not only impressive but built by a desperation for the need of survival.

Just the fact that this man got to be the first person to ever confirm alien life and then grow a relationship with said life made me so giddy! I really adored how excited both parties were to get to know about one another and their cultures. I could read an entire second book if one was published just based on the ending of the story that we got.

I was honestly shocked at how quickly I fell in love with this story and how connected I felt to the characters by the end. The ending made me cry uncontrollably and I am actually very happy for that. I couldn’t imagine this book ending any other way than how it did. The last sentence alone was *chef’s Kiss*.

I think if I would have read this physically I probably would have DNF’d the book due to all the sciencey talk that is like a foreign language to me. The Audio book production made all that talk sound interesting and actually convinced me I might have a slight understanding as to what is happening.

I can not wait for the movie to come out. I have high hopes so it better be as good as I am thinking or else I might be crushed!

“Well, you’re not alone anymore, buddy,” I say. “Neither of us are.”
Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary

QOTD: Would you ever want to visit space?

Book Review: “Listen For The Lie” By Amy Tintera

I had honestly not heard to much about this book before I had read it. It was recommended to me by one of my Bookstagram friends moreazlibros for my 12 books from 12 friends challenge for this year. I am really happy that this book was suggested to me as I probably wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise.

“You don’t owe anyone your whole story.”
Amy Tintera, Listen for the Lie

About The Book

Author: Amy Tintera

Publisher: Celadon Books

Published Date: March 5th, 2024

Page Count: 336 Page Count

Main Genre: Mystery, Thriller

GoodReads Rating: 4.07

Format: Audio

“I am not responsible for the fake version of me you created in your head.”
Amy Tintera, Listen for the Lie

Synopsis

Lucy and Savvy were the golden girls of their small Texas town: pretty, smart, and enviable. Lucy married a dream guy with a big ring and an even bigger new home. Savvy was the social butterfly loved by all and, if you believe the rumors, especially popular with the men in town. But after Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer.

It’s been years since that horrible night, a night Lucy can’t remember anything about, and she has since moved to LA and started a new life. But now the phenomenally huge hit true crime podcast Listen for the Lie and its too-good looking host, Ben Owens, have decided to investigate Savvy’s murder for the show’s second season. Lucy is forced to return to the place she vowed never to set foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one who did it.

The truth is out there, if we just listen.

Synopsis From GoodReads

Rating

Review

This book has a pretty unreliable narrator as our main character. She doe snot remember anything form the night that her friend was murdered, all she knows is that everyone suspects it was her and she can’t really blame them.

I at first was really struggling with the main characters inner thoughts as it made her seem very guilty to me. I wasn’t sure why we were even reading this book if she was having thoughts of murdering everyone around. Talk about a guilty conscious! But as the plot started to unfold everything started to click, thankfully!

I think I hated every character in this book at one point or another, except for Beverly, our main characters grandma. She was hilarious and always knew everything going on around which made me love her even more.

The ending of this book was very shocking to me. I didn’t expect the murderer to be who it ended up being at all. This made the ending unpausable and had me on the edge of my seat. But this was pretty much the feeling all throughout the book though because it seemed to have twists and turns being tossed around at every corner.

If I could have lived without one thing in the entire story it would have been the random love plotline between the podcaster and our main character. It just wasn’t needed and didn’t add much to the whole story.

Overall I would recommend this book to people who love true crime podcasts as the audiobook was well produced and felt like a true podcast story was unfolding before my ears.

“Some people will never believe you no matter how hard you explain yourself. Trust me, there’s no pleasing people. If they’re determined to think the worst of you, they will.”
Amy Tintera, Listen for the Lie

QOTD: DO you have a favorite Podcast?

“People don’t believe women who fight back. When a man lashes out, people say he’s lost control of his temper or made a terrible mistake. When a woman does it, she’s a psychopath.”
Amy Tintera, Listen for the Lie

Book Review: “To Sir Phillip, With Love” By Julia Quinn

It has been a while since I have picked up a Bridgerton Book but with Season 4 about to Air on Netflix I decided this was the perfect time to dive back in. Mostly because I heard that Eloise starts a bit of her journey this season and so I would like to be overly caught up.

“Men. The day they learned to admit to a mistake was the day they became women.”
Julia Quinn, To Sir Phillip, With Love

About The Book

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon

Published Date: July 1st, 2003

Page Count: 372 Pages

Main Genre: Historical Romance

GoodReads Rating: 3.69

Format: Audio Book

“. . . I do not tell you often enough, dear Mother, how very grateful I am that I am yours. It is a rare parent who would offer a child such latitude and understanding. It is an even rarer one who calls a daughter friend. I do love you, dear Mama.”
Julia Quinn, To Sir Phillip, With Love

Synopsis

Sir Phillip knew from his correspondence with his dead wife’s distant cousin that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he’d proposed, figuring that she’d be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage. Except . . . she wasn’t. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her…

Eloise Bridgerton couldn’t marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking… and wondering… and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she hoped might be her perfect match. Except… he wasn’t. Her perfect husband wouldn’t be so moody and ill-mannered. And he certainly should have mentioned that he had two young – and decidedly unruly – children, as much in need of a mother as Phillip is in need of a wife.

Synopsis From GoodReads

Rating

Review

Eloise is my favorite character in the Netflix adaptation but to be honest I haven’t felt the exact same way throughout the books. Getting to read her specific story really did help that picture adapt in my mind though.

I have a hard time seeing the Eloise from earlier in the series becoming the Eloise this Book depicted but I think that is an important part of typical character growth as she goes from not wanting to be married to finding the right man and finally finding a place she truly belongs.

I love that their romance starts with the exchange of letters as that is the one main thing I have always linked Eloise to. This is a very common aspect sprinkled throughout the book and that helped me really grasp her character. Another thing that felt a lot like her character was when she ran away to officially meet this man. She makes split decision without thinking of the consequences and that felt absolutely correct for her.

I absolutely adored the interaction with her step kids. She never really treated them as step kids and truly accepted them as her own. Getting to see this dynamic felt extremely refreshing. I also loved the playfulness she allows these children to express. The kids should get to feel like kids while they are young and she really embraces this.

Overall, I found the romance was really cute! I really enjoyed how easy it was for Phillip to lean into her family and accept them, it felt very seamless. Her brothers over protectiveness was probably one of my favorite scenes as the Bridgerton Brothers will always be my favorite characters.

I can’t wait to watch the adaptation!

“I had to do something,” she said. “I couldn’t just sit and wait for life to happen to me any longer.”
Julia Quinn, To Sir Phillip, With Love

QOTD: Who is your Favorite Bridgerton Sibling?

Book Review: “Chlorine” By Jade Song

This is a book I know I wouldn’t have ever picked up on my own. I had heard decent reviews regarding the story but in all honesty I thought the book was much bigger than it truly was and a book about mermaids didn’t really strike a chord within me. I am very grateful for my friend Syd who asked to buddy read this with me along with Ireland and Katie, all of which are my best friends on Bookstagram.

**Spoilers ahead if you have not read the book. **

“I guess hearts are slippery because they’re covered in blood. I wish I could bleed mine dry. Then I’d miss you less.”
Jade Song, Chlorine

About The Book

Author: Jade Song

Publisher: William Morrow

Published Date: March 28th, 2023

Page Count: 256 Pages

Main Genre: Horror/FIction

GoodReads Rating: 3.65

Format: Physical Book

“I died and regenerated every month. How else could I define the experience? The reasonable explanation was death. I decided when my body was wheeled into the morgue, the coroner would declare I died of being a woman. Which was far better than dying of being a man.”
Jade Song, Chlorine

Synopsis

Ren Yu is a swimmer. Her daily life starts and ends with the pool. Her teammates are her only friends. Her coach, her guiding light. If she swims well enough, she will be scouted, get a scholarship, go to a good school. Her parents will love her. Her coach will be kind to her. She will have a good life.

But these are human concerns. These are the concerns of those confined to land, those with legs. Ren grew up on stories of creatures of the deep, of the oceans and the rivers. Ones that called sailors to their doom. Ones that dragged them down and drowned them. Ones that feasted on their flesh. Ones of the creature that she’s always longed to become: mermaid.

Ren aches to be in the water. She dreams of the scent of chlorine–the feel of it on her skin. And she will do anything she can to make a life for herself where she can be free. No matter the pain. No matter what anyone else thinks. No matter how much blood she has to spill.

Synopsis From GoodReads

“As a mermaid, I now recognize how winning places the self within a construct of hierarchy over other bodies—a false construct. There’s no victory when someone else loses.

But back then, oh, how I adored winning. The rush of it all! You poor humans. You’ll never learn to be better, not when winning is so addictive.”
Jade Song, Chlorine

Rating

Review

Reading this book as a buddy read was the right way to go. Getting to talk about the underlining meanings was really helpful. Was this book about mermaids or mental health? Maybe Both?

My main consensus is that our character was struggling with mental health issues. From her dad leaving her and her mom at such a young age, her swimming being compulsive, her coach not really caring to push the limits too far etc.

These events all put a lot of strain on Ren and the only way she could truly cope was becoming the mermaid she always felt she was. This also plays into feeling comfortable in your own skin and becoming who you were meant to be whether that’s a boy/girl or in this case a mermaid. Our physical bodies don’t always reflect what our soul feels we are and I think Ren describes herself really well in that context.

In the end of this book Ren stitches her legs together to grow her tail. This is of course to gain her full mermaid potential but the idea only forms after she gets disqualified from a much needed win. When you put that much pressure on yourself to be the best and know your coach and teammates all rely on you it can do a lot of harm. This is when I wish that someone would have stepped in and done more for Ren instead of letting her self isolate as she did.

Overall I did enjoy this book, Ambiguous ending and all. I am still going back and forth on if Ren found her mermaid family or if she passed away. But regardless of my endless questions this book has a lot of great commentary that I think everyone is one way or another can benefit from. Please read the trigger warnings before reding this though, it gets dark and lonely!

“How was I supposed to differentiate between the pain due to the concussion and the pain due to the agony of everyday human life?”
Jade Song, Chlorine

QOTD: If mermaids were real would you want to be one?

Book Review: “Glow Of The Everflame” By Penn Cole

Immediately after finishing the first book in this series I dove right into the second. The cliff hanger at the end of book one might have been predictable but it did its job well as I am very intrigued as to what happens inside those palace walls.

“Perhaps, for the right person, we endure the pain, because the torture of never having them at all is the more unbearable fate.”
Penn Cole, Glow of the Everflame

“Spark Of The Everflame” Full Review

*Possible spoilers ahead*

About The Book

Author: Penn Cole

Publisher: Atria Books

Published Date: July 18th, 2023

Page Count: 610 Pages

Main Genre: Romantasy

GoodReads Rating: 4.34

Format: E-Book

“It’s a reminder that no challenge can destroy the parts of us that truly matter. We’re not reborn in the flames. We’re revealed.”
Penn Cole, Glow of the Everflame

Synopsis

An unexpected gift offers the power to change everything. Keeping it could cost Diem her life.

The threat of war has arrived at Diem’s doorstep, along with a new discovery that could save her people. To use it, she must survive the next thirty days by forming a devil’s bargain with the people she hates the royal family of House Corbois.

But as she dives into the world of the Descended elite, Diem quickly realizes good and evil aren’t as simple as they seem. Old prejudices are challenged, and new loyalties blur the line between friend and foe.

Meanwhile, her mother is still missing, and the secrets she left behind can no longer be ignored—and neither can the Guardians and their demands. Caught between an old flame and a sizzling new spark, Diem must confront the truth about who she is and what she wants before time runs out.

War is coming, and dangerous enemies wait on all sides.. but the most deadly battle Diem faces may be the one for her heart.

Synopsis From GoodReads

“Burn, my Queen. Glow so bright, the darkness trembles.”
Penn Cole, Glow of the Everflame

Rating

Review

I had a false hope that wearing the crown would force Diem to make better choices. She claims her choices are for the betterment of all but girl your emotions are going to get everyone killed.

This book started to feel more YA than Adult and I think that is the main reason why this got a lower rating than the first book. I just really expected more from Diem now that she became queen but maybe that wasn’t fair of me to expect.

While the World building and politics were amazing and kept me interested in the book The character growth was still not up to my standards, at least not for Diem. If any of our characters had strong developmental growth it would have to be Teller. Teller really stepped into his role towards the end of this book and I appreciated getting to interact with him more.

Every decision Diem was making I was saying “ohhhh Girl, no.” I just really need her to step up and make some decent choices for once and not just giving in or giving up. She really needed to practice her magic but was acting like a baby whenever she did. Going into the challenging felt useless to me cause she clearly can’t use her powers. I truly believe the only way she could destroy her opponent is because of the goddess herself. I just needed more from Diem herself and not just pure luck from being “The Chosen One.”

The ending of this book really pissed me off as well because I completely saw every step of it coming. Diem is her own worse enemy which bleeds into basically sabotaging the whole world.

My only wish is that we see more of her and Luther and less of them fighting. If she self sabotages this relationship anymore I might freak out. He literally tells her the most romantic and cute things and she just doesn’t let herself see his intentions, its annoying! Please no more Henri, nothing about that relationship is interesting.

“That if a man made you doubt whether his love for you would survive anything, he does not deserve you.”
Penn Cole, Glow of the Everflame

QOTD: At what point do you start to DNF?