nadjsim's reviews
243 reviews

 You Belong To Me is a thrilling story about a normal high school girl who, in order to get with her beautifully unattainable crush, attends a skincare and wellness event and accidentally gets sucked into a cult. More than that, it’s a story about the dangers of impossibly high beauty standards, constant comparison, and, most importantly, free will.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who finds cults endlessly fascinating, I devoured this book. It’s clear that Krischer did a ton of research into cult dynamics and tactics, and it absolutely shows. What I found especially compelling was the decision to base the cult around the idea of free will, constantly reminding its members that they’re individuals who should think for themselves while simultaneously proving the exact opposite. It was exhilarating to watch it all build up and unravel.

That said, for a book I enjoyed so much, I was surprised by how much trouble I had deciding on a rating. At times, it felt like the book over-explained itself, ruining the vibes it was trying so hard to create. It also leaned into some tired YA clichés, like having the main characters spend the entire semester working on a school project that just happens to be thematically similar to what they’re actually going through.

Ultimately, while I would’ve loved for this book to take an even darker, deeper, and more poetic approach, I think it’s only fair to rate it for what it is: a perfectly well-executed and captivating YA novel.

 

Unfortunately, there was nothing thrilling about The Other Couple. I tried again and again, but I just couldn't get into it. Every 'reveal' felt so minimal, and yet Alice overreacted to every minuscule piece of information she got. It's not often I say this, but I genuinely don't care what these people were up to.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not That Kind of Hero is a charming and moving YA novel, perfect for anyone who has ever related more to the sidekick than the hero. The story follows Orla, a chronic people pleaser, as she navigates a two-week acting intensive and learns, for once, to prioritize her own needs and aspirations.

Honestly, while Orla was incredibly frustrating at times, I related to her on so many levels it was kind of shocking. I think, if I’d read this book at sixteen instead of twenty-six, I probably would’ve cried more than once.

The romance part didn’t disappoint either because Cass was, as expected, so charming and cute. However, the biggest strength of this book wasn’t the funny/adorable banter, it was the way this book handled heavier topics, like domestic violence, with care and nuance. While there are authors out there who would try to shock the audience with scenes of explicit violence, Casale manages to capture the exact emotions and fears very clearly without having to spell it out for us.

In the end, did I feel that Not That Kind of Hero might’ve been too ambitious, juggling so many characters and themes? Maybe. Did I thoroughly enjoy it? Absolutely. What can I say, I’m a sucker for heartwarming stories of (semi-)found families.

 Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Let’s get one thing clear: this isn’t a mystery. Sure, there are some mystery elements, but at its core, Remember Me Tomorrow is a romance novel with a YA-style narration. So, if you’re expecting anything remotely suspenseful or thrilling, this probably isn’t it.

That said, this book is absolutely bonkers; I have to agree with the author on that one. The chaos ramps up, especially toward the end, and turns into a shitshow of dramatic monologues as all the characters attempt to explain their sides of the story. I think, in order for all the twists to land for me, this book needed a lot more work and time.

Now, onto the romance. While I’m all for the idea of two people falling for each other through texts, the actual text exchanges in this book felt very unconvincing. First, I don’t think anybody texts like that. Nobody sends half a message if they change their mind or get interrupted. And second, there was no depth in their messages at all, nothing that would actually lead to the great romantic revelation. So the romance, to me, felt completely unearned.

Finally, let’s get into some pettier gripes I had with this book: the not-like-other-girls trope, which hit me right from the start. I get it, the main character is so ✨quirky✨ because she’s obsessed with octopuses. But instead of feeling unique or endearing, it came across more like middle school quirkiness than something you’d expect from a college student. If I played a drinking game, taking a sip each time an octopus was mentioned, I would be dead.

All that being said, I was entertained. It’s a 2.5 stars from me!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

 “Olivia and I fought as if the world existed to fuel our rivalry.”

Shred Sisters is a beautifully devastating exploration of sisterhood, mental illness, love, loss, and the complexity of family dynamics. Although the Shred sisters were polar opposites, neither felt exaggerated or reduced to a trope. They were both messy, imperfect, raw, and very, very real.

I’ll admit it: in the first few chapters, I related to Amy to a painful degree. I highlighted whole passages, feeling seen as the quiet, studious, “good” one compared to the hurricane that is my older sister. Luckily, as the sisters grew, their stories evolved into something less relatable but equally captivating. I can’t remember the last time I devoured 200 pages in a single sitting. All in all, a great read!

“No one will love you more or hurt you more than a sister.”

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

 Afterlife, but make it a capitalist, influencer-packed, propaganda-filled hellhole.

What Comes After is an absurd yet heartfelt story about life, death, and whatever comes in between.

Set in Paradise Gate, a community for recently deceased non-believers who are given 90 days to become better people and earn ascension, this book weaves elements of satire and mystery with heartbreakingly complicated family dynamics. At its heart, What Comes After is about forgiveness, growth, and, most of all, the love that drives us to do better.

Right from the start, the afterlife system shown in this book is so absurd it’s hard not to laugh at all the weird, nonsensical details. I’m sure I missed a few easter eggs here and there, rushing to take it all in and uncover the secrets of this odd place.

Finally, the storybuilding, although better as an idea than in execution, definitely deserves all the comparisons to Black Mirror and The Good Place.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.