heykellyjensen's reviews
2550 reviews
Just Do This One Thing for Me by Laura Zimmermann
Drew's mother is the queen of asking her to do just one thing for her. So when the thing is watching her younger brother and sister while she flies to Mexico to see Justin Timberlake, Drew is not happy. And yet she knows she doesn't have a choice, either. What unravels over the course of the week, though, is nothing Drew nor her siblings could have ever expected. Their lives begin to fall apart thanks to a social security scam, a college rejection, and perhaps the worst thing of all: learning that mom never made it to Mexico at all.
This is by turns heartbreaking and hilarious, at times laugh-out-loud. The book is set in rural Wisconsin and perfectly captures the setting while rendering multidimensional and extremely complex characters. Recommended for readers who like contemporary realistic YA; voice-y, character driven stories; and stories of lower class families working hard to make it while relying on one another in good and not-so-good ways.
This is by turns heartbreaking and hilarious, at times laugh-out-loud. The book is set in rural Wisconsin and perfectly captures the setting while rendering multidimensional and extremely complex characters. Recommended for readers who like contemporary realistic YA; voice-y, character driven stories; and stories of lower class families working hard to make it while relying on one another in good and not-so-good ways.
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel
Breitwieser is one of the world's most notorious art thefts. But how did he do it? WHY did he do it? Finkel's book is a captivating look at what drives a person to commit a bloodless crime. It's a story that discusses not only Breitwieser's upbringing and his fascination with specific types of art, but it looks at how he got away with theft for so long. There's not really a clear explanation here, but Finkel offers up interesting theories, including that many speculate Breitwieser struggles with Stendhal syndrome or he has a specific arena of kleptomania.
This particular story hooked me from page one because in many ways–and Finkel says as much in the author's note–Breitwieser is similar to the American bibliomaniac Stephen Blumberg. These two (white) men were not stealing to sell their finds or make money on the black market. Instead, their theft happened because they wanted to keep these pretty, important works and believed themselves capable of doing such. Though there might not be blood at the end of the day with this kind of crime, the reality is that humanity loses when cultural artifacts go missing. These stories are a reminder of how much trust there is in the public when it comes to art and how that trust butts against the reality that there is often low security and that there are folks out there who will take advantage of the system.
It's a fast-paced and short read, perfect for those who like books like THE FEATHER THIEF or THE FALCON THIEF.
This particular story hooked me from page one because in many ways–and Finkel says as much in the author's note–Breitwieser is similar to the American bibliomaniac Stephen Blumberg. These two (white) men were not stealing to sell their finds or make money on the black market. Instead, their theft happened because they wanted to keep these pretty, important works and believed themselves capable of doing such. Though there might not be blood at the end of the day with this kind of crime, the reality is that humanity loses when cultural artifacts go missing. These stories are a reminder of how much trust there is in the public when it comes to art and how that trust butts against the reality that there is often low security and that there are folks out there who will take advantage of the system.
It's a fast-paced and short read, perfect for those who like books like THE FEATHER THIEF or THE FALCON THIEF.
Murder on a School Night by Kate Weston
Kerry and Annie could not be any different. Kerry is cautious and likes to remain out of the spotlight. She's okay not being popular. Annie, on the other hand, loves attention and desperately wants to fit in with the popular kids. So when one of the most popular girls in school, Heather, mentions to the duo that she needs help figuring out who created a social media account pretending to be her dead father to harass her, Annie is all in...and drags Kerry with her. When the girls arrive at a party at Heather's house to figure out who is behind the account, Kerry and new boy Scott find themselves standing in front of a dead body. Literally. Not only is the body dead, but the killer left a calling card in the form of a menstrual cup shoved in the victim's mouth. Now Kerry and Annie are not just looking for a social media jerk. They're looking for someone willing to kill.
And kill they do: two more dead bodies will come through the story, both of which have some kind of menstrual product left at the scene. Slowly, the girls begin to unravel the mystery of who is willing to kill and why they're on such a bloody rampage.
This is a funny, rompy murder mystery. It's light, despite being full of dead bodies, and it takes many a twist and turn. There is a real mystery–and a good twist on the whodunit–but it's one that is layered with more humor and hijinks than it is serious investigation. This one will appeal especially to fans of Maureen Johnson, and the voice reminded me quite a bit of Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here by Anna Breslaw.
And kill they do: two more dead bodies will come through the story, both of which have some kind of menstrual product left at the scene. Slowly, the girls begin to unravel the mystery of who is willing to kill and why they're on such a bloody rampage.
This is a funny, rompy murder mystery. It's light, despite being full of dead bodies, and it takes many a twist and turn. There is a real mystery–and a good twist on the whodunit–but it's one that is layered with more humor and hijinks than it is serious investigation. This one will appeal especially to fans of Maureen Johnson, and the voice reminded me quite a bit of Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here by Anna Breslaw.
Where Are Your Boys Tonight?: The Oral History of Emo's Mainstream Explosion 1999-2008 by Chris Payne
If you grew up in or are interested in the era of emo music like My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, and dozens of others, this oral history of its rise and fall is a must-read. It makes for a great audio experience, given the format, but print readers will be equally engaged in what made some bands take off while others fizzled out. There are first-hand accounts from some of the band members, alongside insight and experiences share from journalists and music lovers. As someone who lived in Chicagoland and knew of Fall Out Boy early on–they got their launch in the burbs–it was especially interesting to hear about Pete Wentz and how his identity as biracial was so often ignored or "forgotten" about (especially interesting given his coming of age in the wealthy northshore). Engaging, interesting, nostalgic, and fun for popular music nerds.
Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang
For readers who love dark, body-focused horror, this book is going to tick every box. The protagonist–not named, but we know is of Asian American heritage–has just left a life of performing piano after a tragic accident harmed both her mother and father. They had taught her the instrument and helped her become top-of-the-game, but now she's roiled in guilt. She's found quickly after by someone who offers her a job at a natural beauty store, Holistik. But this isn't your "average" natural beauty store. It is a front for something much more sinister and damaging, and not everyone in this story will make it to the end alive.
Fast paced, compelling, and stomach-churning, this is a book about identity, about bodily autonomy–especially for women and women of color–, and it is about the lengths some will go in order to help save the ones they love the most. This one is not for the faint of heart.
Fast paced, compelling, and stomach-churning, this is a book about identity, about bodily autonomy–especially for women and women of color–, and it is about the lengths some will go in order to help save the ones they love the most. This one is not for the faint of heart.
Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou
29-year-old Ingrid Yang is in the final year of her doctoral work and is hard at work on her thesis on enjambment in the work of Chinese-American poet Xiao-Wen Chou. What begins as exhaustion and lack of inspiration turns into a story of unmasking the truth of who Chou is through a series of both ridiculous and serious activities undertaken due to exhaustion, duress, and, eventually, light revenge. Ingrid is Taiwanese-American, and this story explores how Asian heritage in America can and is exploited and fetishized, demeaned and held to high standards.
This book is both darkly humorous and starkly series, mixing elements of the books Yellowface and Bunny in their takedowns of academic yellowface and academia more broadly.
This book is both darkly humorous and starkly series, mixing elements of the books Yellowface and Bunny in their takedowns of academic yellowface and academia more broadly.
Conspirituality: How New Age Conspiracy Theories Became a Health Threat by Derek Beres
Over the last decade, we've seen an uptick in the number of wellness influencers thanks to social media, and while many of their beliefs are grounded in truth and facts, the pandemic became a perfect opportunity for many of these influencers to turn to grifting. But how does that happen, and how does it happen in a world of yoga, Eastern practices, and the wellness industry? This is a powerful, necessary read for anyone who wonders about the clashing of spirituality with conspiracy theory, and it is an eye opener on everything from how even smart people get facts wrong because of poor research and researcher credibility, how yoga has roots in fascism (and why "holidays" such as International Day of Yoga are grounded in this legacy and should be approached more thoughtfully), and how repeat failures in science communication opened the door to rampant misinformation on COVID, vaccines, and healthcare. This is a deeply empathetic book that both explains the ways and hows while also calling out the groups and individuals who have caused tremendous hurt, misinformation, and even death through their money-making schemes.
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
If the horror slasher camp trope is your jam, this is going to be up your alley. It's a fun read about a cast of queer teens of color who are performers at what is essentially a haunted house, set at Camp Mirror Lake. But things take a turn as some of the employees stop showing up....or, rather, they begin showing up dead.
Pageboy by Elliot Page
This coming of gender and sexuality memoir from the lead of films like Juno is at once a story of a brutal and unrelenting experience of coming out as trans as much as it is a celebration of gender euphoria. Elliot's story is fascinating, whether or not you're familiar with his work, and given his position as a well-known trans person, this book is a powerful look at the experiences that many of us may never know or experience first hand...while also being a cathartic read for those who have been there or may someday be there. The audiobook, performed by Elliot, is engaging, and his emotion is palpable (there are some minor production issues, which are in no way reflective of Elliot's work).
One's Company by Ashley Hutson
A woman who has experienced tremendous loss wins the lottery and uses the money to build her dream life–a replica set of Three's Company. She lives and breathes as each of the characters, living off the map, for several years in order to hide from the grief and loss she's experienced. But when the facade drops, how will she wrestle with her own mental health? And why does she find such comfort in a decades-old show? This is a darkly humorous and sensitive story of the lengths to which people go when they want to escape their life and what they've been through.