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Reviews

Malibu Rising Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Malibu Rising Review

I am pleasantly surprised how much I loved this!

Malibu: August, 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together, the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer, Mick Riva.

I didn’t know what to expect going into this book. I had a vague idea of what it was going to be about but when we get into it it just delves so much deeper into the lives of the Riva’s than what I was expecting. First I just thought it was going to just be all about Nina but then the timeline shifts to when Mick and June meet for the first time and everything comes full circle and is just beautiful to read.

I liked Nina’s character, she’s probably my second favourite of the Riva children behind Kit. I just loved seeing her character progression over the course of the story. Feeling abandoned by her dad and seeing her mum spiral out of control and having to pick up the pieces and find a way to raise the rest of her siblings and come up with the cash to pay all the bills. Then in present day having what happened to her mother happen to her when Brandon comes crawling back.

The multiple povs were a great way to highlight each of the Riva’s and we get to see how different they are from each other but also how committed to each other they are. I really feel like even though they have their differences because of what they have had to deal with growing up their bond will never be severed and that was lovely to read. Also the fact that each of them had their own issues and dramas that they were going through separately but all come together and get exposed in the end. It was just so entertaining and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading.

Overall I was highly invested in the story. The countdown to the party was a great way to build up the anticipation and keep me wanting to read on to see what was going to happen next. The journey of the Riva children was traumatic and sad yet they were able to overcome all of the adversity together and managed to excel in their lives despite not having any contact or help from their father.

⭐️5/5 stars This is the kind of historical fiction that I can get behind!!

Reviews

The Chosen and the Beautiful Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on The Chosen and the Beautiful Review

Jordan Baker grows up in the most rarefied circles of 1920s American society—she has money, education, a killer golf handicap, and invitations to some of the most exclusive parties of the Jazz Age. She’s also queer, Asian, adopted, and treated as an exotic attraction by her peers, while the most important doors remain closed to her. But the world is full of wonders: infernal pacts and dazzling illusions, lost ghosts and elemental mysteries. In all paper is fire, and Jordan can burn the cut paper heart out of a man. She just has to learn how.

I honestly didn’t realise this was a Great Gatsby retelling. I have read Nghi Vo’s novella’s and when I seen she had a new full length novel I knew I had to read it without even researching anything about it. Unfortunately the plot of the Great Gatsby just doesn’t really interest me all that much. I can appreciate how beloved the book is and how much of a classic it has now become, but it just doesn’t do anything for me personally.

I liked Jordan’s character. She has this carelessness and frivolity about her that is engaging. She is very frank and at times callous with her words which was entertaining and refreshing in the midst of the plot and the very proper way people spoke to each other back in the 20’s. Even though she is very much apart of the upper echelon of the wealthy she does still at times feels different and ostracised because of her appearance and ethnicity which added that layer of depth and realness to the plot.

The twist with the magic and powers that Jordan has was interesting. At first I didn’t quite understand what was happening and whether or not what she could do was real or if she was hallucinating it or something. I would of appreciated if we could of learnt more about how these paper cut-outs work and what brings them to life and how it differs from what Khai is able to do. That whole plotline just somehow felt unfinished and I was left wanting to know more about it.

Nghi Vo’s prose is beautifully descriptive and lyrical. There is this fantastical element to her writing that mixes so well with a realistic setting. That alone really was able to carry me through this book and allow me to finish it in one sitting. Historical fiction isn’t my chosen genre at all and it kind of bores me but those added whimsical touches to the plot perked the story up for sure!

⭐️3/5 stars This was beautifully written, just didn’t dazzle me.

Book Lists

5 Books I Want to Read Update

by amyleighreads4 Comments on 5 Books I Want to Read Update

Back in January I posted about 5  books I really wanted to read in 2021 and now that we are halfway through the year I thought I would post an update! At this stage I’ve only read 1 out of 5 of the books so I really have to get cracking if I want to complete them all. 

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

This was a wonderful introduction to this trilogy and I can see now why so many people love this book. The writing was descriptive and the world building was immaculate. All of the characters were distinctive and diverse and the way the storylines merged was masterful. I am kicking myself for putting off reading this book for so long and I am happy to have finally completed it. I have a feeling I am going to be continuing on very soon!

My Rating:  ⭐️4/5 stars

The other four books I still need to read are:

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Updates

Library Update

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Library Update

It’s time for my monthly Library update!! I feel like I’ve been getting better at reading the books that I borrow instead of letting them sit there until I need to return them. Though I have been more in a E-Book reading phase at the moment so it’s been a little bit difficult to pick something up physically and actually read it. However, I am still going to utilise the library and continue to borrow books that have piqued my interest and hopefully read them. I have actually finished one book already that I have borrowed and that is Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir!