nicole_bookmarked's reviews
997 reviews

dark mysterious medium-paced

Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This novel explores ambition, privilege, and philanthropy, all set against the backdrop of NYC's 1%. The story centers on Brooke, a 33-year-old Black woman who lands a prestigious job at The Carol and Asher Jaffee Foundation. What starts as an opportunity to do good and make a difference quickly spirals into a tale of arrogance and obsession, as Brooke becomes increasingly entangled in the world of wealth and power.

The author does a brilliant job of raising questions about what it means to do and be good, particularly when enormous sums of money are involved. Brooke’s journey from a promising new hire to someone who feels increasingly entitled is fascinating and uncomfortable to watch. The characters are deeply flawed, which makes them more real and relatable despite their unlikability.

The book’s ending is unexpected and unsettling, leaving the reader with lingering questions. This book will leave you thinking long after you’ve turned the last page. A solid four stars from me!

Big thanks to #NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an eARC of this book in exchange for this honest review.

Colored Television by Danzy Senna

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dark funny informative medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Colored Television is a sharp, darkly comedic look at the complexities of race, identity, and the challenges of making it in the art world. Set in present-day Los Angeles, the story follows Jane, a biracial novelist, and her husband Lenny, both of whom are talented but financially strapped, trying to raise two young kids,

This book is both funny and cringe-inducing in the best ways, offering a clever satire of the entertainment industry and the compromises artists sometimes make. If you enjoyed Yellowface, you’ll likely appreciate Senna’s ability to blend humor with uncomfortable truths. It’s a readable, thought-provoking novel that keeps you entertained while making you think.

Pet by Catherine Chidgey

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dark mysterious fast-paced

4.5

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak

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adventurous emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak is a beautifully written novel that spans different times and places, all connected by water and the stories of those who rely on it.

The book takes us from ancient Mesopotamia, along the Tigris River, to 1850s London, and finally to modern-day Turkey and London. Arthur is a young man with a troubled past who discovers the Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest poem in the world while working at the British Museum. Dr. Zaleekhah Clarke is a hydrologist in present-day London, struggling with the climate crisis and personal issues. Narin is a Kurdish girl whose life is torn apart by war and the construction of a dam that will flood her hometown to create a reservoir, erasing it from the map.

Shafak’s writing is lyrical and poetic, which makes the book a joy to read, even though it has a slow, melancholy feel. The way she writes about water, as something more than just a resource, really made me appreciate it in a new way. However, the book does rely on a lot of coincidences that might be a bit hard to believe, and the slow pacing might not be for everyone.

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

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lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced