corndogqueeen's reviews
110 reviews
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
(Michelle Williams..... thank youuuuu!!!) I won't be rating this one.... I understand and can sympathize with Britney for all of the abuse she has suffered from her family. Undeniably they were not looking out for her at all and she was grossly mistreated by both her family and the media and continues to be. That said, she is clearly not well and does not seem to have any self awareness. Some of the events she cites and explains from her POV are so blatantly distorted and/or show you she does not understand the gravity of these situations. idk it just was really hard for me to get through this. Again, she has suffered serious trauma and abuse since her childhood. She suffers from mental illness/es. I can understand where she is coming from and how she justifies all of her behavior, but it is evident she does not fully understand the magnitude of some things and some of her actions. I am glad she has her freedom and can try to heal.
Spoiler
For example, she hid in a bathroom with her infant son because she was scared she would never see him again if she returned him to his father as per the custody agreement. She didn't seem to understand at all why that would work against her custody case and how she was in the wrong in that situation, regardless of the distress she was feeling. Another item would be her insisting over and over that her ex husband, family and courts were accusing her of using drugs. She then explains that they were fully lying, and she only took Adderall, "medicine they give kids." She goes on to say she did get high off the Adderall (she was drinking when taking them). This to me is very confusing. I kept expecting her to say something to the extent of "I understand why they could see it that way, but I was not behaving recklessly or endangering anyone" etc.
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
3.0
Ughhhh... so I was LOVING this absolutely eating it up until part 2. Soooo much of the book was revolved around the pandemic?? To the point where the entire second part is emails back and forth... I didn't hate that but it's kinda lazy? If it had been left at that I would've gotten over the covid focus. But it genuinely plays such a major role I feel like if this came out like... 20 years in the future maybe I'd appreciate the degree to which it was relevant to the story but idk it's just a little too soon for me I guess...
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
2.5
....huh??? The writing itself is good enough but the story is just like so ridic imo
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
3.5
I loved the writing and some of the story, but I didn't really find myself all that engaged towards the ending? I don't know. I think I just had suuuper high expectations. If I'd just picked this up at the library knowing nothing about it I probably would've loved it. There was a lot I loved about it, to be fair, but the story overall kinda fell flat for me. I didn't feel like the story was really fully wrapped up and that always puts a damper on the entire book for me.
Also....
Also....
Spoiler
I can believe that people had the thoughts they all had, but you're telling me nearly every single person throughout both Calvin and Elizabeth's lives was a huge evil meanie? Like everyone was just pure mean af to both of them to their faces I feel like perhaps people didn't say those things. If only one character did this I wouldn't think anything of it but I kept thinking hmmm so literally everyyyyy person in their entire lives was their arch nemesis? Alright
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Suicide, Pregnancy, Sexism, Death, and Misogyny
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
5.0
Bruh..... my heart...... this book was so good. I definitely recommend the audiobook as I got the "tone" the author was conveying and I'm not sure I would've had I read it. Love love love!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Miscarriage
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
3.5
Beautifully written, but the first half was soooo much better than the second half imo. I went from LOVING it to just trying to get it over with. (Audiobook)
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
4.75
Honestly I loved this. I guess it's kind of hard-ish for me to find fiction books that are centered around women without being romance books (I say hard ish because this sub-genre is something I'm newly realizing I prefer), so I do think I always bump books like this up because I am just much more engaged in them.
Anyway I really liked the characters, the voice, the messaging and the stories. They felt like real people and I was very engaged immediately
Anyway I really liked the characters, the voice, the messaging and the stories. They felt like real people and I was very engaged immediately
Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes
4.5
Really love the voice of the author & I am a huge sucker for multiple POVs and entertaining stories. Really really liked this!!
Just My Type by Falon Ballard
4.0
I really enjoy her writing! While this book was also laden with very explicit "I'm a millennial these are my quirks and interests hehe" like her debut, Lease on Love, it worked better here imo and I really liked this story!
Spoiler
also, my cousin just had a surprise backyard wedding too so I teared up at that!
Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen
3.0
I overall really enjoyed this! I wasn't blown away or anything, but there were a lot of elements I really loved.
(Maybe spoiler-y but I also listened as opposed to read so sometimes I miss stuff)
(Maybe spoiler-y but I also listened as opposed to read so sometimes I miss stuff)