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Bubblegum
Tiana is your typical pampered young blonde with a love for expensive shoes, hot guys, and murder.
After Tiana is cut off from her family’s riches, she takes advantage of her talents and becomes a killer for hire. It’s a lucrative business in her country, where a call to the police can amount to a lifetime of debt.
Her first client: Julia, a lower-class IT genius, lesbian, and devout Catholic. When the orphanage Julia volunteers at is targeted by the infamous brothel-owner Bobby Nails, Tiana is excited to take the job. But when she discovers Bobby Nails has a full army of mercenaries at his disposal, Tiana wonders if she may be in over her head.
Tiana and Julia face an unexpected adventure as they seek vengeance against the elusive Nails. Along the way they are joined by Ruby, a pyromaniac ex-prostitute who catches Julia’s eye, and William, a mysterious acrobatic fugitive searching for his daughter.
In the end, will they be enough to stop Nails and the chaos he has created?
After Tiana is cut off from her family’s riches, she takes advantage of her talents and becomes a killer for hire. It’s a lucrative business in her country, where a call to the police can amount to a lifetime of debt.
Her first client: Julia, a lower-class IT genius, lesbian, and devout Catholic. When the orphanage Julia volunteers at is targeted by the infamous brothel-owner Bobby Nails, Tiana is excited to take the job. But when she discovers Bobby Nails has a full army of mercenaries at his disposal, Tiana wonders if she may be in over her head.
Tiana and Julia face an unexpected adventure as they seek vengeance against the elusive Nails. Along the way they are joined by Ruby, a pyromaniac ex-prostitute who catches Julia’s eye, and William, a mysterious acrobatic fugitive searching for his daughter.
In the end, will they be enough to stop Nails and the chaos he has created?
338 pages, Paperback
Published October 9, 2017
4 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Sari Taurez
1 book38 followersSari Taurez lives in Arizona with her wife, daughter, dog and two cats. She is the co-host of the YouTube gaming channel Pixel Slayers with her wife Frankie, and co-host of The Simpsons Siblings podcast with her brother Shaun.
A film school graduate, Sari strives to make every novel feel like an action movie.
Sari is an advocate for LGBT rights, and strives to create thrilling adventures with LGBT characters.
Sari's debut novel Bubblegum is out now! Coming soon, the sequel to Bubblegum: Terranova.
A film school graduate, Sari strives to make every novel feel like an action movie.
Sari is an advocate for LGBT rights, and strives to create thrilling adventures with LGBT characters.
Sari's debut novel Bubblegum is out now! Coming soon, the sequel to Bubblegum: Terranova.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 25, 2017
*I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Bubblegum sure as heck is a wild ride!
The cover art is perfect because this book reads a lot like a high-action comic book. The main character, Tiana, is something of a self-proclaimed vigilante for hire in a mess of a futuristic dystopian world. Instead of getting a main character who really cares about the terrible things the police or government are doing, Taurez gives us a girl who sees a way to work the system. Want to see the human trafficking stopped? Well I can do that, for a fee. The book is somewhat episodic as Tiana and her accumulated crew take on different jobs that are all in some way taking down the criminal empire run by Bobby Nails.
It's so refreshing to read a thoroughly awful leading lady. I mean that! There are next to no redeeming qualities in Tiana and I love it! How often do you get a twisted, edgy guy who has no redemption arc? Well here you've got a high-heel loving rich girl with a hot pink gun named Bubblegum who is willing to sell out just about anyone for a buck. Simply delightful, I tell you.
Not to say that the book is static. There's a great (and diverse!) cast of side characters that work their way into Tiana's life. While I found Julia a little bland, Ruby and William were likable and dynamic. And not to say that Tiana's indifference doesn't come to bite her on the ass...no spoilers, though!
If you're looking for an action story with a good dose of feminisim and diversity, this is your book!
Read this review at:
Bubblegum sure as heck is a wild ride!
The cover art is perfect because this book reads a lot like a high-action comic book. The main character, Tiana, is something of a self-proclaimed vigilante for hire in a mess of a futuristic dystopian world. Instead of getting a main character who really cares about the terrible things the police or government are doing, Taurez gives us a girl who sees a way to work the system. Want to see the human trafficking stopped? Well I can do that, for a fee. The book is somewhat episodic as Tiana and her accumulated crew take on different jobs that are all in some way taking down the criminal empire run by Bobby Nails.
It's so refreshing to read a thoroughly awful leading lady. I mean that! There are next to no redeeming qualities in Tiana and I love it! How often do you get a twisted, edgy guy who has no redemption arc? Well here you've got a high-heel loving rich girl with a hot pink gun named Bubblegum who is willing to sell out just about anyone for a buck. Simply delightful, I tell you.
Not to say that the book is static. There's a great (and diverse!) cast of side characters that work their way into Tiana's life. While I found Julia a little bland, Ruby and William were likable and dynamic. And not to say that Tiana's indifference doesn't come to bite her on the ass...no spoilers, though!
If you're looking for an action story with a good dose of feminisim and diversity, this is your book!
Read this review at:
November 4, 2017
My friend mentioned the author of this book was looking for ARC reviewers on Goodreads so I asked for one and actually got an ebook copy to review (thank you!).
This review was also posted on my blog.
My timing for picking this up was pretty perfect because I've been reading really slow paced and/or depressing books lately so this was a nice change.
Bubblegum was so much fun to read! Despite it dealing with a lot of dark things like prostitution and human trafficking it manages to not be depressing and the friendships the characters build just left me with happy feels in the end. It's also very action heavy and a lot of things happen so it definitely doesn't get boring at any point. I almost couldn't put the book down because every chapter started in a way that I really needed to know what the characters were up to now and I ended up finishing the book really fast because of that.
Even though Bubblegum takes place in the future it's not very different from ours. People make references to movies like Die Hard and sounds like technology isn't much more advanced. The only major difference is the very visible class (or level) system that allows the really high ranked people like Tiana basically get away with murder (guess why she can do her job so easily) and leaves lower ranked people like Julia wondering can they afford to go to the police for help and will they even bother.
The characters were all great personalities, Tiana and Ruby being my favorites. I loved that Tiana was a bit of an asshole who became a killer because it sounded fun and the pay was good. I mean, you wouldn't expect that to be the number one career choice for a rich girl. She's a really fun character but it's probably a good thing that the whole book wasn't from her point of view (it switches between her and Julia). While Tiana was all about searching for the next thrill, Julia offered a slightly more sane view to things so it balanced things out nicely. There's also some great LGBT representation happening in the book, probably the most I've seen in any book I've read so far. I found Julia particularly interesting because she was gay and also religious and that combination was no big deal for her. I don't know why that stood out to me, but it was just a nice little detail.
The story was a wild ride from beginning to end and I was glad nothing worked out too easily for Tiana, but I think I would have liked to see a little more detail about what they actually planned to do during their hits, because obviously things go wrong and reader is left wondering what were they even trying to achieve? Other than chaos, that is. Some of the plot twists were also a little predictable, like I guessed some stuff multiple chapters before they happened, but that didn't bother me because it was just nice to be right for once when those were revealed.
With the way Bubblegum is written I think it would work pretty greatly as a graphic novel as well. I could easily picture the events as comic book pages. I might actually draw Tiana with her Bubblegum rifle (yes, her gun is named Bubblegum) at some point when I have time just because I can.
But yeah, if you want to read something fun with badass lady characters and lots of action you should definitely pick up Bubblegum when it comes out in October!
This review was also posted on my blog.
My timing for picking this up was pretty perfect because I've been reading really slow paced and/or depressing books lately so this was a nice change.
Bubblegum was so much fun to read! Despite it dealing with a lot of dark things like prostitution and human trafficking it manages to not be depressing and the friendships the characters build just left me with happy feels in the end. It's also very action heavy and a lot of things happen so it definitely doesn't get boring at any point. I almost couldn't put the book down because every chapter started in a way that I really needed to know what the characters were up to now and I ended up finishing the book really fast because of that.
Even though Bubblegum takes place in the future it's not very different from ours. People make references to movies like Die Hard and sounds like technology isn't much more advanced. The only major difference is the very visible class (or level) system that allows the really high ranked people like Tiana basically get away with murder (guess why she can do her job so easily) and leaves lower ranked people like Julia wondering can they afford to go to the police for help and will they even bother.
The characters were all great personalities, Tiana and Ruby being my favorites. I loved that Tiana was a bit of an asshole who became a killer because it sounded fun and the pay was good. I mean, you wouldn't expect that to be the number one career choice for a rich girl. She's a really fun character but it's probably a good thing that the whole book wasn't from her point of view (it switches between her and Julia). While Tiana was all about searching for the next thrill, Julia offered a slightly more sane view to things so it balanced things out nicely. There's also some great LGBT representation happening in the book, probably the most I've seen in any book I've read so far. I found Julia particularly interesting because she was gay and also religious and that combination was no big deal for her. I don't know why that stood out to me, but it was just a nice little detail.
The story was a wild ride from beginning to end and I was glad nothing worked out too easily for Tiana, but I think I would have liked to see a little more detail about what they actually planned to do during their hits, because obviously things go wrong and reader is left wondering what were they even trying to achieve? Other than chaos, that is. Some of the plot twists were also a little predictable, like I guessed some stuff multiple chapters before they happened, but that didn't bother me because it was just nice to be right for once when those were revealed.
With the way Bubblegum is written I think it would work pretty greatly as a graphic novel as well. I could easily picture the events as comic book pages. I might actually draw Tiana with her Bubblegum rifle (yes, her gun is named Bubblegum) at some point when I have time just because I can.
But yeah, if you want to read something fun with badass lady characters and lots of action you should definitely pick up Bubblegum when it comes out in October!
September 27, 2017
*An ARC copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. I would like to thank the author for the copy*
Bubblegum was such an action packed rollercoaster of events, where do I begin? There are so many elements of this book that I loved: it was diverse, it was witty, it had strong feminist characters and there were so many twists and turns thatI had to do a double take at times!
I enjoyed the dystopian world this book created, while it set up the story it still felt very contemporary and real, perhaps not in the too distant future. You all know I love a good mystery and I have to admit that I did not see this twist coming, I loved the twist in this book and it just made it that much better.
The main element of the book I loved was the characters, they were all so different but all just as likeable and they made a unlikely but awesome team. I think my favourite would have to be Tiana, she is the ultimate badass and it was very fun to read from her point of view.
While Bubblegum does deal with some darker topics or undertones, the book is definitely a light, fast paced read, if you are in need of some action I would definitely recommend Bubblegum by Sari Taurez.
Bubblegum was such an action packed rollercoaster of events, where do I begin? There are so many elements of this book that I loved: it was diverse, it was witty, it had strong feminist characters and there were so many twists and turns thatI had to do a double take at times!
I enjoyed the dystopian world this book created, while it set up the story it still felt very contemporary and real, perhaps not in the too distant future. You all know I love a good mystery and I have to admit that I did not see this twist coming, I loved the twist in this book and it just made it that much better.
The main element of the book I loved was the characters, they were all so different but all just as likeable and they made a unlikely but awesome team. I think my favourite would have to be Tiana, she is the ultimate badass and it was very fun to read from her point of view.
While Bubblegum does deal with some darker topics or undertones, the book is definitely a light, fast paced read, if you are in need of some action I would definitely recommend Bubblegum by Sari Taurez.
March 23, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book although it's not something i would normally think to read. In a dystopian future society, a rich 20something woman is cut off from her family's wealth and finds she really enjoys the life of a killer for hire.
The plot is at times quite heavy handed but altogether a fun read.
The plot is at times quite heavy handed but altogether a fun read.
August 3, 2017
Review also posted at: https://underthebookcover.blogspot.co...
Thank you to Sari Taurez for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for review! All opinions are my own.
This was an absolutely crazy wild insane ride of a book and I loved every second of it. I got an idea of what the book was about from the synopsis but it didn't prepare me for how insane this book was going to be. And I mean that in the best way possible!
Plot:
Because I want readers to get the same experience that I got from this book, I'm going to be rather vague when talking about the plot. But holy crap is this unlike anything I have ever read. In Tiana's world, status is everything. So when she gets cut off from the family riches, her only option is to find work or lose it all. Luckily for her, she's got a job lined up that can make a real killing. Her first client is Julia, a lower-class I.T. girl that knows life is hard when you can't afford to call the police. The orphanage she volunteers at is targeted by the infamous brother owner Bobby Nails and Tiana jumps at the chance to take the job. But there's more to it than meets the eye and Tiana and Julia soon find themselves wrapped up in unexpected, explosive, dangerous adventures. But together, they form a friendship stronger than any of their differences. Will it be enough to stop Nails and save the orphans?
Holy. Crap. Have I said that yet? Because holy crap. This book was nothing like what I expected and left me wanting more from this crazy messed up crew. Tiana is a literal mess and gets herself into some absolutely insane situations that she probably wouldn't be able to get out of unless Julia was there to help her. The two make a fantastic team that work together so well despite their differences and their friendship is one of the many highlights of this book. Bubblegum reads kind of like an episodic novel, with each part of the book being a different job that Tiana and Julia take on that all seem to be a part of the ultimate goal which is taking down Bobby Nails. I actually really enjoyed how there were multiple parts to this book because it really gave a different feeling while reading. It definitely didn't take anything away from the book or make it feel broken up or separated. Every part flowed perfectly into the next and everything added up to make this beautiful, insane story. Bubblegum starts off relatively normal and takes the reader on an experience that can only be described as watching fireworks while on a burning roller coaster ride without the safety restraints. The writing is fresh, fun, and unique, the characters are ones that you'll love whether you want to or not, and the story is absolutely out of this world. If you like books about brothels on fire, blue haired cannibals, and a rich girl with a thing for murder and a gun named Bubblegum, then this is the book for you.
Characters:
Tiana is probably the most unlikable character you'll ever come across. Seriously, I can't think of one redeeming quality about her. But that's what makes her so incredible. She's a girl that likes killing and doesn't mind taking out the bad guys- for a price. Tiana is loud, obnoxious, sarcastic, vicious, and loyal as all get out. With her status, she can quite literally get away with murder, and she takes full advantage of that. I said it above but one of the highlights of this book is the friendship between Julia and Tiana. They are complete opposites, with Julia being a level four and Tiana being a level two (that may sound odd but it makes more sense in the book, trust me!), Tiana being a blonde white girl with a thing for murder and Julia being an African American Catholic that volunteers at an orphanage housed in a church. Seriously, the two of them come from completely different worlds and are as different as any two characters can get, but they have the best friendship ever. It's definitely a slow building one, but eventually the two are thick as thieves.
The entire cast of characters is the craziest bunch you'll ever encounter but they all make the story so much better. It was such a wild ride watching these people try and take down the bad guy! From blowing up a brothel, setting people on fire, wrecking a school bus, and demolishing a building, there's no shortage of action and adventure packed into the pages of Bubblegum. The characters are some of the most unique I've ever encountered and I really believe they were a huge part of what made the story for me. They're a rag tag band of people trying to do good in their own twisted way and there's nothing like this out there. Bubblegum is in a league of it's own- a crazy, bloody, hilariously dark but still fun league.
Writing:
Sari Taurez's writing was off the charts amazing. She was able to create this world that's eerily close to ours while perfectly balancing the amount of description and action. There was never a point where I was bored with the world building or backstory she was writing, and I was always eager to read more about Tiana! Everything about this world is interesting and insane and one that feels like it could be real in the near future. It's not something that's so out there that it's impossible to believe, but it's realistic enough to where you're actually thinking about how it could happen to us. There's blood and gore and crazy antics that make you want to keep reading and find out just what else could possibly happen because surely a bunch of prostitutes taking revenge on their captors and burning the building down is as crazy as it gets, right? Right? Not even close! I was so drawn in by how easy and fun the writing was and how Sari worked to highlight things such as positive LGBT representation. I fell in love with the world and characters she created and the issues she chose to speak out about and I know there will be others who feel the same. There are characters in Bubblegum that certainly have some darker sides to them and Sari never shys away from them but rather brings them into light and shows the flaws of her characters. I've said it before but this was such a unique reading experience and it's one that I don't think anyone should miss. Also, if you're a fan of endings that will leave you feeling like your stomach has just jumped into your throat, then Bubblegum will not disappoint. I was shocked and excited and dying for a sequel when I read the last page!
Bubblegum is unlike any other book you'll ever read. It has action, explosions, positive LGBT representation, diversity, death, blood, gore, and so much more. The writing is easy and fun to read, the world is realistic and one you'll want to explore more of, and the characters are some of the most messed up but lovable people you'll ever meet. Don't miss Bubblegum when it releases on 09 October 2017!
Thank you to Sari Taurez for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for review! All opinions are my own.
This was an absolutely crazy wild insane ride of a book and I loved every second of it. I got an idea of what the book was about from the synopsis but it didn't prepare me for how insane this book was going to be. And I mean that in the best way possible!
Plot:
Because I want readers to get the same experience that I got from this book, I'm going to be rather vague when talking about the plot. But holy crap is this unlike anything I have ever read. In Tiana's world, status is everything. So when she gets cut off from the family riches, her only option is to find work or lose it all. Luckily for her, she's got a job lined up that can make a real killing. Her first client is Julia, a lower-class I.T. girl that knows life is hard when you can't afford to call the police. The orphanage she volunteers at is targeted by the infamous brother owner Bobby Nails and Tiana jumps at the chance to take the job. But there's more to it than meets the eye and Tiana and Julia soon find themselves wrapped up in unexpected, explosive, dangerous adventures. But together, they form a friendship stronger than any of their differences. Will it be enough to stop Nails and save the orphans?
Holy. Crap. Have I said that yet? Because holy crap. This book was nothing like what I expected and left me wanting more from this crazy messed up crew. Tiana is a literal mess and gets herself into some absolutely insane situations that she probably wouldn't be able to get out of unless Julia was there to help her. The two make a fantastic team that work together so well despite their differences and their friendship is one of the many highlights of this book. Bubblegum reads kind of like an episodic novel, with each part of the book being a different job that Tiana and Julia take on that all seem to be a part of the ultimate goal which is taking down Bobby Nails. I actually really enjoyed how there were multiple parts to this book because it really gave a different feeling while reading. It definitely didn't take anything away from the book or make it feel broken up or separated. Every part flowed perfectly into the next and everything added up to make this beautiful, insane story. Bubblegum starts off relatively normal and takes the reader on an experience that can only be described as watching fireworks while on a burning roller coaster ride without the safety restraints. The writing is fresh, fun, and unique, the characters are ones that you'll love whether you want to or not, and the story is absolutely out of this world. If you like books about brothels on fire, blue haired cannibals, and a rich girl with a thing for murder and a gun named Bubblegum, then this is the book for you.
Characters:
Tiana is probably the most unlikable character you'll ever come across. Seriously, I can't think of one redeeming quality about her. But that's what makes her so incredible. She's a girl that likes killing and doesn't mind taking out the bad guys- for a price. Tiana is loud, obnoxious, sarcastic, vicious, and loyal as all get out. With her status, she can quite literally get away with murder, and she takes full advantage of that. I said it above but one of the highlights of this book is the friendship between Julia and Tiana. They are complete opposites, with Julia being a level four and Tiana being a level two (that may sound odd but it makes more sense in the book, trust me!), Tiana being a blonde white girl with a thing for murder and Julia being an African American Catholic that volunteers at an orphanage housed in a church. Seriously, the two of them come from completely different worlds and are as different as any two characters can get, but they have the best friendship ever. It's definitely a slow building one, but eventually the two are thick as thieves.
The entire cast of characters is the craziest bunch you'll ever encounter but they all make the story so much better. It was such a wild ride watching these people try and take down the bad guy! From blowing up a brothel, setting people on fire, wrecking a school bus, and demolishing a building, there's no shortage of action and adventure packed into the pages of Bubblegum. The characters are some of the most unique I've ever encountered and I really believe they were a huge part of what made the story for me. They're a rag tag band of people trying to do good in their own twisted way and there's nothing like this out there. Bubblegum is in a league of it's own- a crazy, bloody, hilariously dark but still fun league.
Writing:
Sari Taurez's writing was off the charts amazing. She was able to create this world that's eerily close to ours while perfectly balancing the amount of description and action. There was never a point where I was bored with the world building or backstory she was writing, and I was always eager to read more about Tiana! Everything about this world is interesting and insane and one that feels like it could be real in the near future. It's not something that's so out there that it's impossible to believe, but it's realistic enough to where you're actually thinking about how it could happen to us. There's blood and gore and crazy antics that make you want to keep reading and find out just what else could possibly happen because surely a bunch of prostitutes taking revenge on their captors and burning the building down is as crazy as it gets, right? Right? Not even close! I was so drawn in by how easy and fun the writing was and how Sari worked to highlight things such as positive LGBT representation. I fell in love with the world and characters she created and the issues she chose to speak out about and I know there will be others who feel the same. There are characters in Bubblegum that certainly have some darker sides to them and Sari never shys away from them but rather brings them into light and shows the flaws of her characters. I've said it before but this was such a unique reading experience and it's one that I don't think anyone should miss. Also, if you're a fan of endings that will leave you feeling like your stomach has just jumped into your throat, then Bubblegum will not disappoint. I was shocked and excited and dying for a sequel when I read the last page!
Bubblegum is unlike any other book you'll ever read. It has action, explosions, positive LGBT representation, diversity, death, blood, gore, and so much more. The writing is easy and fun to read, the world is realistic and one you'll want to explore more of, and the characters are some of the most messed up but lovable people you'll ever meet. Don't miss Bubblegum when it releases on 09 October 2017!
April 15, 2018
3.5 stars - RTC
September 17, 2017
*I received a free electronic advance reading copy of this book in return for an honest review*
Status means everything in this society, including the difference between life and death. Tiana is a pampered member of the higher class of society, until her mother cuts her off and she must make her own way in the world. Tiana has a plan though – she has a knack for murder. Julia is Tiana’s first client, a lower-class girl, who volunteers at the local orphanage – an orphanage that’s being targeted by the infamous brothel-owner Bobby Nails. But as Tiana investigates she finds she might be in over her head. Tiana and Julia face a dangerous enemy on their quest for vengeance and justice, and they soon discover that they’re stronger together than a part. But will it be enough to stop Nails and save the orphans from a terrible fate?
The setting of Bubblegum feels like the near-future. Technology is pretty similar but the class system is very much a dystopian ideal – the rich get protection and are free to do whatever they want, including kill people from lower classes, while the lower classes struggle to get by with limited opportunities when it comes to work and education.
Bubblegum is a lot of fun and that’s down to the larger than life characters and the fact the action never really lets up for long. The characters are what really pulled me into this story. Tiana is bold, confident and a bit selfish sometimes, she seems to steamroll over Julia (and others) quite a few times but slowly you get to see that she’s not always as tough as she appears and she does truly care for a few select people. Julia is great. She’s the most relatable character of the bunch. She doesn’t have a lot of money, she cares a lot about the children she works with at the orphanage and she is very well aware of the dangerous situations she is slowly getting herself into and has very realistic, yet level-headed, reactions to it all.
The dialogue between Tiana and Julia is great. To be honest, pretty much all the dialogue is quick and engaging, putting the point across without too much unnecessary exposition. It’s the relationship between Tiana and Julia as well as Ruby and William, two characters you are slowly introduced to and are just as engaging as the story progresses, that really makes Bubblegum for me. Tiana and Julia have such an unlikely yet solid friendship (what with Tiana being almost the stereotypical white rich girl while Julia is the black poor girl) and when Ruby and William come along they dynamic shifts but they all make a badass yet kind of messed up group of people.
I’m pretty sure Bubblegum is the first New Adult story I’ve read and if this is the kind of thing the NA bracket brings I’ll be reading more of it. Bubblegum doesn’t shy away from gory violence and it does have some sex scenes but nothing too explicit. However, there are references to prostitution, including child prostitution, and sexual violence.
While I can’t say anything about how good the representation is, there is a female/female romance between a lesbian character and a transgender character. The relationship between the two is organic and sweet and you’re really rooting for them both, especially as their personalities are kind of the complete opposite but they compliment each other a lot.
Bubblegum is action-packed and while it does feature tough themes like human-trafficking and prostitution, it still manages to be fun without lessening the traumas the characters face in these situations.
Status means everything in this society, including the difference between life and death. Tiana is a pampered member of the higher class of society, until her mother cuts her off and she must make her own way in the world. Tiana has a plan though – she has a knack for murder. Julia is Tiana’s first client, a lower-class girl, who volunteers at the local orphanage – an orphanage that’s being targeted by the infamous brothel-owner Bobby Nails. But as Tiana investigates she finds she might be in over her head. Tiana and Julia face a dangerous enemy on their quest for vengeance and justice, and they soon discover that they’re stronger together than a part. But will it be enough to stop Nails and save the orphans from a terrible fate?
The setting of Bubblegum feels like the near-future. Technology is pretty similar but the class system is very much a dystopian ideal – the rich get protection and are free to do whatever they want, including kill people from lower classes, while the lower classes struggle to get by with limited opportunities when it comes to work and education.
Bubblegum is a lot of fun and that’s down to the larger than life characters and the fact the action never really lets up for long. The characters are what really pulled me into this story. Tiana is bold, confident and a bit selfish sometimes, she seems to steamroll over Julia (and others) quite a few times but slowly you get to see that she’s not always as tough as she appears and she does truly care for a few select people. Julia is great. She’s the most relatable character of the bunch. She doesn’t have a lot of money, she cares a lot about the children she works with at the orphanage and she is very well aware of the dangerous situations she is slowly getting herself into and has very realistic, yet level-headed, reactions to it all.
The dialogue between Tiana and Julia is great. To be honest, pretty much all the dialogue is quick and engaging, putting the point across without too much unnecessary exposition. It’s the relationship between Tiana and Julia as well as Ruby and William, two characters you are slowly introduced to and are just as engaging as the story progresses, that really makes Bubblegum for me. Tiana and Julia have such an unlikely yet solid friendship (what with Tiana being almost the stereotypical white rich girl while Julia is the black poor girl) and when Ruby and William come along they dynamic shifts but they all make a badass yet kind of messed up group of people.
I’m pretty sure Bubblegum is the first New Adult story I’ve read and if this is the kind of thing the NA bracket brings I’ll be reading more of it. Bubblegum doesn’t shy away from gory violence and it does have some sex scenes but nothing too explicit. However, there are references to prostitution, including child prostitution, and sexual violence.
While I can’t say anything about how good the representation is, there is a female/female romance between a lesbian character and a transgender character. The relationship between the two is organic and sweet and you’re really rooting for them both, especially as their personalities are kind of the complete opposite but they compliment each other a lot.
Bubblegum is action-packed and while it does feature tough themes like human-trafficking and prostitution, it still manages to be fun without lessening the traumas the characters face in these situations.
August 26, 2017
My review was first posted on Northern Plunder, you can read more of my reviews there too.
Okay bare with me on this one because I made 8 pages of notes on this book and I’m not great at being coherent when I love something so here is to me trying to make it more readable for this review.
Sari contacted me on twitter offering me an eARC of Bubblegum to read, she pitched as a “Dystopian New Adult Thriller with feminist themes and LGBT characters” which of course I just had to say yes too.
I’m really glad I did.
From the start Bubblegum is a wild ride as we’re introduced to Tiana talking about her firsts because the night we’re joining her on she had her first kill.
That’s right. Tiana (our MC) is a killer and she loves it.
At least she killed for a good reason though? Am I right?
The guy in question was trying to kidnap a lady, Julia, to take her to Top Dog Bobby Nails who runs an underground prostitution ring. The one that Julia was trying to start a petition against.
He had it coming. He had it coming. (You know the song)
[TW: Yes this is a dark book, whilst its fun and fast paced like an action movie, it does contain subject matter that could be triggering – rape, forced prostitution, forced prostitution of children, abuse, slavery, and murder. Please note though the rape scenes that you do read tend to fade to black and nothing too violent happens on page though there is some that happen off page to other characters without us knowing much detail of them]
The only reason Bobby Nails is able to do such a gross thing and get away with it is the dystopian part of this story.
The way this dystopian place is constructed is really interesting as its based off hierarchy of status. Those that are Level 1 are higher than the Level 4’s and so on and so forth. (Their levels are indicated by a band on their arm) So if a high level commits a crime against a lower level they can’t be prosecuted.
After this night Tiana chooses (or is forced too by her mother being not too happy at her lazy ass) to move in with Julia, a much lower level, and starts her life of crime-fighting. Or more specifically killing people who’re doing horrible things.
I think its important to note that Tiana isn’t a hero. At the start of the book she is helping other people but for wrong reason – she likes to kill, she likes the rush – and she also takes their money after saving them. This definitely places her as at least morally-gray because she has access to money due to her high level but the people she often saves are worse off than here and usually its money they really needed to keep.
I found her interesting to read about because of those reasons and also due to some events that happen in the book which seem to indicate Tiana’s feelings change a little so she’s doing it to help people as well. But she still wants the money.
Julia is an awesome character. She’s the second narrator in this book and is a queer , religious POC who has wanted to take Bobby Nails down from the start but with her low level hasn’t achieved much. I think she’s happy that Tiana shows an interest and gets involved almost accidentally. She ends up being a crucial part to Tiana’s survival, proves she’s smart and caring, and is the best team leader Tiana could’ve hoped for.
Julia cares deeply about her Church and the orphaned children they care for, and its those kids that she is trying to protect and keep out of BN’s hands. It is because of this we know she’s a morally good character, she really does want to protect as many people as possible. Which means we have a nice contrast in narrators.
William is introduced as someone in need of a killer, he hires Tiana to look into Bobby Nails business to save two people he cares about – Claire and Ruby – Tiana doesn’t jump at this idea until its clear he is willing to pay a lot of money and she figures she can ask the people who signed Julia’s petition too.
I mentioned briefly about Tiana’s feelings change a little and this happens around the time she decides to go to BN’s to gather information and is ultimately taken in as a new prostitute. I believe during her time here when she gets to experience things for herself she realises how inconsiderate she’s been. She keeps up her bravado, strong willed, and foul mouthed personality (all this I think is important as it helps the others to follow her lead when she needs them too) and whilst it doesn’t explicitly state her change of mind I believe it does show us with how she has been effected by it with comments on her facial expressions. These in particular felt very real.
So much happens in the story that I don’t really want to touch on any more specifics but I can’t finish this review without talking about how great the rep is in this book.
In addition to a religious and lesbian person of colour, we’re introduced to a bisexual who stands up to Tiana and corrects their understanding of what it means to be bisexual. We also meet a trans individual who, despite growing up in an abusive situation, has remained strong and is loved and accepted by another character.
Okay I think I should start to wrap it up now.
Basically I really loved the characters and whilst the story at times was predictable it didn’t make it any less enjoyable due to the fact it was fast paced much like an action movie.
Be sure to pick up on release date guys!
Okay bare with me on this one because I made 8 pages of notes on this book and I’m not great at being coherent when I love something so here is to me trying to make it more readable for this review.
Sari contacted me on twitter offering me an eARC of Bubblegum to read, she pitched as a “Dystopian New Adult Thriller with feminist themes and LGBT characters” which of course I just had to say yes too.
I’m really glad I did.
From the start Bubblegum is a wild ride as we’re introduced to Tiana talking about her firsts because the night we’re joining her on she had her first kill.
That’s right. Tiana (our MC) is a killer and she loves it.
At least she killed for a good reason though? Am I right?
The guy in question was trying to kidnap a lady, Julia, to take her to Top Dog Bobby Nails who runs an underground prostitution ring. The one that Julia was trying to start a petition against.
He had it coming. He had it coming. (You know the song)
[TW: Yes this is a dark book, whilst its fun and fast paced like an action movie, it does contain subject matter that could be triggering – rape, forced prostitution, forced prostitution of children, abuse, slavery, and murder. Please note though the rape scenes that you do read tend to fade to black and nothing too violent happens on page though there is some that happen off page to other characters without us knowing much detail of them]
The only reason Bobby Nails is able to do such a gross thing and get away with it is the dystopian part of this story.
The way this dystopian place is constructed is really interesting as its based off hierarchy of status. Those that are Level 1 are higher than the Level 4’s and so on and so forth. (Their levels are indicated by a band on their arm) So if a high level commits a crime against a lower level they can’t be prosecuted.
After this night Tiana chooses (or is forced too by her mother being not too happy at her lazy ass) to move in with Julia, a much lower level, and starts her life of crime-fighting. Or more specifically killing people who’re doing horrible things.
I think its important to note that Tiana isn’t a hero. At the start of the book she is helping other people but for wrong reason – she likes to kill, she likes the rush – and she also takes their money after saving them. This definitely places her as at least morally-gray because she has access to money due to her high level but the people she often saves are worse off than here and usually its money they really needed to keep.
I found her interesting to read about because of those reasons and also due to some events that happen in the book which seem to indicate Tiana’s feelings change a little so she’s doing it to help people as well. But she still wants the money.
Julia is an awesome character. She’s the second narrator in this book and is a queer , religious POC who has wanted to take Bobby Nails down from the start but with her low level hasn’t achieved much. I think she’s happy that Tiana shows an interest and gets involved almost accidentally. She ends up being a crucial part to Tiana’s survival, proves she’s smart and caring, and is the best team leader Tiana could’ve hoped for.
Julia cares deeply about her Church and the orphaned children they care for, and its those kids that she is trying to protect and keep out of BN’s hands. It is because of this we know she’s a morally good character, she really does want to protect as many people as possible. Which means we have a nice contrast in narrators.
William is introduced as someone in need of a killer, he hires Tiana to look into Bobby Nails business to save two people he cares about – Claire and Ruby – Tiana doesn’t jump at this idea until its clear he is willing to pay a lot of money and she figures she can ask the people who signed Julia’s petition too.
I mentioned briefly about Tiana’s feelings change a little and this happens around the time she decides to go to BN’s to gather information and is ultimately taken in as a new prostitute. I believe during her time here when she gets to experience things for herself she realises how inconsiderate she’s been. She keeps up her bravado, strong willed, and foul mouthed personality (all this I think is important as it helps the others to follow her lead when she needs them too) and whilst it doesn’t explicitly state her change of mind I believe it does show us with how she has been effected by it with comments on her facial expressions. These in particular felt very real.
So much happens in the story that I don’t really want to touch on any more specifics but I can’t finish this review without talking about how great the rep is in this book.
In addition to a religious and lesbian person of colour, we’re introduced to a bisexual who stands up to Tiana and corrects their understanding of what it means to be bisexual. We also meet a trans individual who, despite growing up in an abusive situation, has remained strong and is loved and accepted by another character.
Okay I think I should start to wrap it up now.
Basically I really loved the characters and whilst the story at times was predictable it didn’t make it any less enjoyable due to the fact it was fast paced much like an action movie.
Be sure to pick up on release date guys!
November 17, 2017
It's mainly an action book but I really liked the fact that many sexualities were represented. It's set in an alternate world with a class system and all sorts of dirty deeds. I liked it but was a little confused at times. I'll say 3.5 stars round up.
September 24, 2017
Tiana is defintely not your usual strong leading lady! She is awful and twisted. But how many male characters have you fallen in-love with a dark personality like that! Well here you’ve got a high-heeled wearing, hot pink gun slinging bad-ass girl willing to sell out just about anyone to get her way. Did I mention her hot pink gun is named Bubblegum?
If you’re looking for an action story with lots of feminism and diversity, this is the book for you! I could definitely see Bubblegum being a graphic novel with all the “BAM!” and “BOOM!” bubbles! It was just so creative and awesomely written.
Julia, the other main character is a complete opposite of Tiana. While Tiana was all about searching for the next thrill, Julia was slightly more sane and genuinely liked to care for people. The major difference is the class level system that allows the really high ranked people like Tiana basically get away with murder and leaves lower ranked people like Julia wondering can they afford to go to the police for help and will they even bother to help. There actually isn’t police, they are called Enforcers, who will only help if you can pay a lot of money. Which means that the lower levels like Julia and the people close to her can’t pay. So maybe that’s where Tiana comes in! Hmmm.
Despite this story dealing with a lot of dark things like prostitution and human trafficking it shines a little light, and a lot of heavy action on the situations. And just maybe Tiana and her crew can make a differences and save them all!
This book is definitely not boring and is face paced and wild.
This book definitely isn’t for younger readers because of the language and mature content. I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to read a action packed, wild, diverse read. I look forward to more from Sari Taurez!
https://criticuncriticalbookwormblog....
If you’re looking for an action story with lots of feminism and diversity, this is the book for you! I could definitely see Bubblegum being a graphic novel with all the “BAM!” and “BOOM!” bubbles! It was just so creative and awesomely written.
Julia, the other main character is a complete opposite of Tiana. While Tiana was all about searching for the next thrill, Julia was slightly more sane and genuinely liked to care for people. The major difference is the class level system that allows the really high ranked people like Tiana basically get away with murder and leaves lower ranked people like Julia wondering can they afford to go to the police for help and will they even bother to help. There actually isn’t police, they are called Enforcers, who will only help if you can pay a lot of money. Which means that the lower levels like Julia and the people close to her can’t pay. So maybe that’s where Tiana comes in! Hmmm.
Despite this story dealing with a lot of dark things like prostitution and human trafficking it shines a little light, and a lot of heavy action on the situations. And just maybe Tiana and her crew can make a differences and save them all!
This book is definitely not boring and is face paced and wild.
This book definitely isn’t for younger readers because of the language and mature content. I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to read a action packed, wild, diverse read. I look forward to more from Sari Taurez!
https://criticuncriticalbookwormblog....
September 9, 2017
Set in an exaggerated but not altogether dystopian future, where people are ranked by social level - those in higher levels can get away with crimes and have access to better services that those in lower levels can't, including murdering lower level citizens.
As a part of this world, there is no communal police force. There are Enforcers, who would be more than happy to attend to all of your security needs... if you can pay. Which means that the lower levels that are more vulnerable to being victims of crime, can't afford the protection.
Obviously there are people out there who like to keep things that way, like the man who is trying to legally buy orphans to stock up his brothels. This book is about how Julia, a lower level citizen, finds herself some friends and heroes to keep the children safe.
The chapters alternate between the POV of Julia, the sensible and compassionate one, and Tianna, the cheerful psychopathic one.
They both complement each other and the story perfectly. The writing style is a little bit too wordy for me but the story itself is perfectly planned out and is refreshingly original, with the perfect characters to back it up.
This book also had some excellent LGBT characters - I mention this because this is the first time in a while I've read a book with LGBT characters that didn't use it as a gimmick. In this case, their sexuality is just a fact and doesn't affect the storyline in any way, which is how I feel it should be unless you're reading a romance!
The only part I struggled with were the action sequences, which I felt went on for a little too long - I'm firmly in the 'less is more' camp when it comes to violence and action in books, but that's just me.
This book is an excellent thriller with a superhero noir kind of tint to it - I really think this one's going to be a crowdpleaser!
As a part of this world, there is no communal police force. There are Enforcers, who would be more than happy to attend to all of your security needs... if you can pay. Which means that the lower levels that are more vulnerable to being victims of crime, can't afford the protection.
Obviously there are people out there who like to keep things that way, like the man who is trying to legally buy orphans to stock up his brothels. This book is about how Julia, a lower level citizen, finds herself some friends and heroes to keep the children safe.
The chapters alternate between the POV of Julia, the sensible and compassionate one, and Tianna, the cheerful psychopathic one.
They both complement each other and the story perfectly. The writing style is a little bit too wordy for me but the story itself is perfectly planned out and is refreshingly original, with the perfect characters to back it up.
This book also had some excellent LGBT characters - I mention this because this is the first time in a while I've read a book with LGBT characters that didn't use it as a gimmick. In this case, their sexuality is just a fact and doesn't affect the storyline in any way, which is how I feel it should be unless you're reading a romance!
The only part I struggled with were the action sequences, which I felt went on for a little too long - I'm firmly in the 'less is more' camp when it comes to violence and action in books, but that's just me.
This book is an excellent thriller with a superhero noir kind of tint to it - I really think this one's going to be a crowdpleaser!
September 16, 2017
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story kind of reminded me of one of my favourite video games: Saints Row. It's crude and outrageous, fast paced and action packed, which made it so much fun to read.
I've never read an LGBT book before, so I didn't know what to expect when it came to the characters. I loved that the characters' sexualities did not define them. It was a trait, nothing more, which is how it should be in real life. Sexualities don't define people, it's just a part of who they are.
The characters themselves were interesting and complex. I loved that the two POV characters are polar opposites of each other: anxious and sensible vs reckless and psychopathic, and yet they complimented each other well.
A couple of the plot twists were expected (there was definitely one that I did NOT expect though!), but overall I enjoyed this book. Not my usual read, but very good nonetheless!
The story kind of reminded me of one of my favourite video games: Saints Row. It's crude and outrageous, fast paced and action packed, which made it so much fun to read.
I've never read an LGBT book before, so I didn't know what to expect when it came to the characters. I loved that the characters' sexualities did not define them. It was a trait, nothing more, which is how it should be in real life. Sexualities don't define people, it's just a part of who they are.
The characters themselves were interesting and complex. I loved that the two POV characters are polar opposites of each other: anxious and sensible vs reckless and psychopathic, and yet they complimented each other well.
A couple of the plot twists were expected (there was definitely one that I did NOT expect though!), but overall I enjoyed this book. Not my usual read, but very good nonetheless!
December 3, 2022
I don't usually rate a book with a full 5 stars but you know it's good if it takes me 3 days or less to finish it.
Lauren had suggested this book for this month's book club and when I looked at the cover I was going to pass. Then I happened to find it on here and read the synopsis. Even the synopsis made me think it was one of those over-hyped girly books but I discovered it was pleasantly not so.
The book could have benefited from some more world building since nothing explains the level bracelets or how they got to be used in the first place and there's mention of a war but, again, nothing is explained.
Overall though, if you can make it past the world building issues, the plot and characters should keep you hooked to the very end.
Lauren had suggested this book for this month's book club and when I looked at the cover I was going to pass. Then I happened to find it on here and read the synopsis. Even the synopsis made me think it was one of those over-hyped girly books but I discovered it was pleasantly not so.
The book could have benefited from some more world building since nothing explains the level bracelets or how they got to be used in the first place and there's mention of a war but, again, nothing is explained.
Overall though, if you can make it past the world building issues, the plot and characters should keep you hooked to the very end.
November 21, 2017
It’s like when my mom sat me down graduation eve, telling me I’d got an acceptance letter to work as a phone secretary down at the Senate. She said it was the best job she could buy me into with the grades I had, or else she knew a couple rich assholes looking for nice trophy wives as arm ornaments. She said if I was gonna live the life I wanted to live, it was one of those two choices. So what did I do? I made a third option.
And that option was gun-for-hire.
High level individuals can get away with anything and Tiana Sellers uses her Level 2 ranking to start a business for herself inspired by a chance encounter with a Level 4, part-time waitress, named Julia. With Bubblegum at her side and the right amount of credits, Tiana works to take down Bobby Nails, a long time brothel operator who sees people as currency. Her new found career path gets her into more than one sticky situation. With the help of a new roommate, an undercover doctor, a long lost hero, and a former prostitute, Tiana works to stop Bobby Nails, but the stakes keep getting higher.
What Did Work: Reading closely to the lines of Bubblegum you will see the parallels to reality. I liked the identification of levels, established by the cuffs everyone wears on their wrist. Though we don’t wear identifying marks of our class hood, the breakdown of classes in reality does exist and there is an unspoken consensus that the richer you are or the more higher up you are the more you can get away with. A real world truth cleverly incorporated that into the story.
The choices that Tiana has to make at the story's climax gives her depth. Tiana is a confusing character that I didn’t know I would like but in another moment I respected her. Tiana's moral complexity is well written. Tiana doesn’t fit in with the typical heroine written today which gives her a nice refreshing feel. It will be interesting to see how that continues in the ongoing series as Taurez left the readers with a deadly cliffhanger.
What Didn’t Work: The setting of the world of Bubblegum is not well developed which leaves understanding some choices of the characters difficult. The setting sounds like a urban city mainly populated by lower-lever rankings in an indistinguishable timeline. Taurez gives no history of how the setting came to exist; when and how levels were established and when and how did this world gain a “King.” The character who gets the best explanation of their back story is Ruby: the former prostitute. That being said, her story doesn’t explain the world they live in but it explains her “condition.” There are fragments of Tiana’s story throughout the narrative but the remaining characters are without as much depth. This is a drastically changed world (like how lower-classes are not allowed to play sports and it strikes a negative emotion in the narrator) but no identification of why.
There is no indication of time in “Bubblegum." This leaves all the moments seem as if they aren't a frantic as they are implied. As the narrative continues on, there is the impression that many months has passed between Tiana’s first hit and the final job. The only identification of time is one of the characters makes mention of “many months.” There is no identification of seasons or holiday to give a hint of time moving forward. As the story goes it feels as if the entire basis of the story takes place in less than a month. Without the concept of time in the setting the story felt stiff and hard to transport. This was disappointing because in areas where time was identified, such as at the climax at a very intense elevator scene, Taurez knows how to pipe up the tension in exciting ways.
Too much of the story is glazed over making the characters seem like stranger even after completing the book. Questions linger like how does a person make themselves blue with diamond studded nails? And does a hero become a bad guy? I was needing the answers to these questions and more at the conclusion. The story fell short in allowing me to connect with the characters.
The cliffhanger of Bubblegum tells us there is a lot more story to come. There are more questions to answers and retribution to be received for the crew now known as the “Princess of Punishment.” I would read the next book in series if only to see if more details would be given to anything other than the sexuality of the characters.
I give Bubblegum by Sari Taurez 3 / 5 Stars.
Happy Reading
(Bubblegum by Sari Traurez was provided for free in exchange for a honest review. The request to write a review was not in anyway a factor in determining the final rating of the book. For questions contact the reviewer above.)
And that option was gun-for-hire.
High level individuals can get away with anything and Tiana Sellers uses her Level 2 ranking to start a business for herself inspired by a chance encounter with a Level 4, part-time waitress, named Julia. With Bubblegum at her side and the right amount of credits, Tiana works to take down Bobby Nails, a long time brothel operator who sees people as currency. Her new found career path gets her into more than one sticky situation. With the help of a new roommate, an undercover doctor, a long lost hero, and a former prostitute, Tiana works to stop Bobby Nails, but the stakes keep getting higher.
What Did Work: Reading closely to the lines of Bubblegum you will see the parallels to reality. I liked the identification of levels, established by the cuffs everyone wears on their wrist. Though we don’t wear identifying marks of our class hood, the breakdown of classes in reality does exist and there is an unspoken consensus that the richer you are or the more higher up you are the more you can get away with. A real world truth cleverly incorporated that into the story.
The choices that Tiana has to make at the story's climax gives her depth. Tiana is a confusing character that I didn’t know I would like but in another moment I respected her. Tiana's moral complexity is well written. Tiana doesn’t fit in with the typical heroine written today which gives her a nice refreshing feel. It will be interesting to see how that continues in the ongoing series as Taurez left the readers with a deadly cliffhanger.
What Didn’t Work: The setting of the world of Bubblegum is not well developed which leaves understanding some choices of the characters difficult. The setting sounds like a urban city mainly populated by lower-lever rankings in an indistinguishable timeline. Taurez gives no history of how the setting came to exist; when and how levels were established and when and how did this world gain a “King.” The character who gets the best explanation of their back story is Ruby: the former prostitute. That being said, her story doesn’t explain the world they live in but it explains her “condition.” There are fragments of Tiana’s story throughout the narrative but the remaining characters are without as much depth. This is a drastically changed world (like how lower-classes are not allowed to play sports and it strikes a negative emotion in the narrator) but no identification of why.
There is no indication of time in “Bubblegum." This leaves all the moments seem as if they aren't a frantic as they are implied. As the narrative continues on, there is the impression that many months has passed between Tiana’s first hit and the final job. The only identification of time is one of the characters makes mention of “many months.” There is no identification of seasons or holiday to give a hint of time moving forward. As the story goes it feels as if the entire basis of the story takes place in less than a month. Without the concept of time in the setting the story felt stiff and hard to transport. This was disappointing because in areas where time was identified, such as at the climax at a very intense elevator scene, Taurez knows how to pipe up the tension in exciting ways.
Too much of the story is glazed over making the characters seem like stranger even after completing the book. Questions linger like how does a person make themselves blue with diamond studded nails? And does a hero become a bad guy? I was needing the answers to these questions and more at the conclusion. The story fell short in allowing me to connect with the characters.
The cliffhanger of Bubblegum tells us there is a lot more story to come. There are more questions to answers and retribution to be received for the crew now known as the “Princess of Punishment.” I would read the next book in series if only to see if more details would be given to anything other than the sexuality of the characters.
I give Bubblegum by Sari Taurez 3 / 5 Stars.
Happy Reading
(Bubblegum by Sari Traurez was provided for free in exchange for a honest review. The request to write a review was not in anyway a factor in determining the final rating of the book. For questions contact the reviewer above.)
December 29, 2017
I'm a huge fan of unlikely heroines and complex evil villains that you love to hate and grow to respect, and Sari Taurez delivers them in a BIG way in this cleverly-crafted book. It's jam-packed with interesting, diverse characters, and I found this novel unbelievably fun to read! It honestly kept me up all night with its twists and turns and high octane action. The cliff-hanging end was ingenuous and makes it possible for Taurez to continue her disturbing, spell-casting drama that readers are sure to enjoy. To sum it all up in a few words, this is a crazy over-the-top ride!
October 9, 2017
Review originally posted at JustLoveReviews: https://justlovereviews.com/2017/10/0...
This book was hard to get through and I almost DNFed it but I wanted to see if it got better. Unfortunately, it did not and I really did not like it. The overall quality of the writing was good, but the plot and overall story was a cluttered mess and I couldn’t get over it. I found myself losing interest before I even made it halfway through the book because of the back and forth POV switches, over/under explaining things, and the lack of focus on the actual driving force of the plot. I really wanted to like this book, too, because I really enjoy the premise and the plot synopsis but the follow-through killed it for me.
The book was supposed to be about them taking down Bobby Nails but it was mostly just side job after side job. Then suddenly something would happen that was related to the Nails job and then the focus would shift back. It was one place, then they were here, and then this other thing happened, and now we’re back to the main plot…and repeat. It got very tedious for me. The big reveal about Nails fell totally flat for me because I do not feel like there were enough false leads and it was kind of obvious. However, that could have been forgiven if I liked the rest of the book.
I actually really liked Tiana and I thought she was the most interesting part of the whole book. Her POV presented a stronger version of the story than Julia’s and I think that if it had just been her POV the book would have been a lot better. Julia’s storyline was there to fill in the blanks of Tiana’s and I wish that it had just been Tiana’s with more explication. This just made everything more confusing and cluttered than it needed to be.
To be honest Julia didn’t really get much character development until the end when suddenly a bunch of stuff happened and I was like, where was this the rest of the book? In the plot synopsis, Julia is called a lesbian but her sexuality wasn’t really a thing in the book. Until it suddenly was. There wasn’t really romantic buildup and to be honest I think that Taurez shouldn’t have even bothered with having Julia have a romance if she wasn’t going to develop it. It was like when you watch an action movie and the characters see each other twice before going I love you and making out. It’s unfulfilling and kind of lazy.
There were also a lot of side characters who showed up and really didn’t get enough character development either thus adding to the already cluttered and dragging plot. For example, this creepy/weird guy kept showing up at random times and it was like, what is the purpose of him? He would show up and do something creepy/murderous and disappear. It was so random and kind of threw off the story when he did show up. It was like, there needed to be more than one threat to the MCs so this guy would show up to fill that void. Then at the end, his true purpose was revealed.
Once again why was everything suddenly revealed at the end? Why wasn’t stuff dispersed better throughout the book? I could have read the last 25% of the book and understood the whole plot better than reading the rest of the book. Though, the ending itself was still very meh. At that point in the book, I was just glad to be done with the whole thing so I could go read another book without feeling guilty.
In the end, this was just a completely unfulfilling book with a plot premise I was really interested in.
*I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This book was hard to get through and I almost DNFed it but I wanted to see if it got better. Unfortunately, it did not and I really did not like it. The overall quality of the writing was good, but the plot and overall story was a cluttered mess and I couldn’t get over it. I found myself losing interest before I even made it halfway through the book because of the back and forth POV switches, over/under explaining things, and the lack of focus on the actual driving force of the plot. I really wanted to like this book, too, because I really enjoy the premise and the plot synopsis but the follow-through killed it for me.
The book was supposed to be about them taking down Bobby Nails but it was mostly just side job after side job. Then suddenly something would happen that was related to the Nails job and then the focus would shift back. It was one place, then they were here, and then this other thing happened, and now we’re back to the main plot…and repeat. It got very tedious for me. The big reveal about Nails fell totally flat for me because I do not feel like there were enough false leads and it was kind of obvious. However, that could have been forgiven if I liked the rest of the book.
I actually really liked Tiana and I thought she was the most interesting part of the whole book. Her POV presented a stronger version of the story than Julia’s and I think that if it had just been her POV the book would have been a lot better. Julia’s storyline was there to fill in the blanks of Tiana’s and I wish that it had just been Tiana’s with more explication. This just made everything more confusing and cluttered than it needed to be.
To be honest Julia didn’t really get much character development until the end when suddenly a bunch of stuff happened and I was like, where was this the rest of the book? In the plot synopsis, Julia is called a lesbian but her sexuality wasn’t really a thing in the book. Until it suddenly was. There wasn’t really romantic buildup and to be honest I think that Taurez shouldn’t have even bothered with having Julia have a romance if she wasn’t going to develop it. It was like when you watch an action movie and the characters see each other twice before going I love you and making out. It’s unfulfilling and kind of lazy.
There were also a lot of side characters who showed up and really didn’t get enough character development either thus adding to the already cluttered and dragging plot. For example, this creepy/weird guy kept showing up at random times and it was like, what is the purpose of him? He would show up and do something creepy/murderous and disappear. It was so random and kind of threw off the story when he did show up. It was like, there needed to be more than one threat to the MCs so this guy would show up to fill that void. Then at the end, his true purpose was revealed.
Once again why was everything suddenly revealed at the end? Why wasn’t stuff dispersed better throughout the book? I could have read the last 25% of the book and understood the whole plot better than reading the rest of the book. Though, the ending itself was still very meh. At that point in the book, I was just glad to be done with the whole thing so I could go read another book without feeling guilty.
In the end, this was just a completely unfulfilling book with a plot premise I was really interested in.
*I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 8, 2018
Wow, what a great debut novel and a great start to a sci-fi series. Confidently written, it hits all the beats of a hero origin story, yet felt so fresh in its details.
Bubblegum is set in a cyberpunk-ish dystopia. Access is to everything is determined by your hardcoded social level. Law enforcement is paid through insurance coverage. It's recognizable as an American city, yet there's a monarchy. Familiar problems abound too: children trapped in a cycle of poverty, racism, transphobia.
The story centres on the unlikely partnership of Julia and Tiana as the latter starts a business as a killer for hire. Julia is the moral centre but Tiana is the star. She follows a warped moral code, seemingly motivated just by thrills. If that were it, Tiana wouldn't me that interesting to me. But there are strong indications of deeper motivation hidden in her past. When she goes out to kill, she does it perhaps to imitate a vigilante hero from her childhood. I was excite read the sections narrated by her, which have a hard-boiled pulp feel to them. I loved following her adventures. She makes mistakes, she's not super-skilled, but she makes up for that with a nasty edge and being clever on her feet. I liked her moral ambiguity, but at the same time, I'm glad she wasn't over the top unpleasant like so many grimdark protagonists.
The world of Bubblegum was tantalizing, but I felt frustated at times that it wasn't explicitly fleshed out. I wanted to piece together how this recognizably American society became this way. I wanted to get a better understanding of what society considered right and wrong. I think the story could have done with a bit more background and detail in its worldbuilding.
Ultimately, I could forget those concerns, because the pace of the novel is cracking, with some unexpected twists and obstacles through things for fun loops. And there's always room for the world to be fleshed out more in the promised sequel. I'm looking forward to it!
Bubblegum is set in a cyberpunk-ish dystopia. Access is to everything is determined by your hardcoded social level. Law enforcement is paid through insurance coverage. It's recognizable as an American city, yet there's a monarchy. Familiar problems abound too: children trapped in a cycle of poverty, racism, transphobia.
The story centres on the unlikely partnership of Julia and Tiana as the latter starts a business as a killer for hire. Julia is the moral centre but Tiana is the star. She follows a warped moral code, seemingly motivated just by thrills. If that were it, Tiana wouldn't me that interesting to me. But there are strong indications of deeper motivation hidden in her past. When she goes out to kill, she does it perhaps to imitate a vigilante hero from her childhood. I was excite read the sections narrated by her, which have a hard-boiled pulp feel to them. I loved following her adventures. She makes mistakes, she's not super-skilled, but she makes up for that with a nasty edge and being clever on her feet. I liked her moral ambiguity, but at the same time, I'm glad she wasn't over the top unpleasant like so many grimdark protagonists.
The world of Bubblegum was tantalizing, but I felt frustated at times that it wasn't explicitly fleshed out. I wanted to piece together how this recognizably American society became this way. I wanted to get a better understanding of what society considered right and wrong. I think the story could have done with a bit more background and detail in its worldbuilding.
Ultimately, I could forget those concerns, because the pace of the novel is cracking, with some unexpected twists and obstacles through things for fun loops. And there's always room for the world to be fleshed out more in the promised sequel. I'm looking forward to it!
March 9, 2018
Wow, what a great debut novel and a great start to a sci-fi series. Confidently written, it hits all the beats of a hero origin story, yet felt so fresh in its details.
Bubblegum is set in a cyberpunk-ish dystopia. Access is to everything is determined by your hardcoded social level. Law enforcement is paid through insurance coverage. It's recognizable as an American city, yet there's a monarchy. Familiar problems abound too: children trapped in a cycle of poverty, racism, transphobia.
The story centres on the unlikely partnership of Julia and Tiana as the latter starts a business as a killer for hire. Julia is the moral centre but Tiana is the star. She follows a warped moral code, seemingly motivated just by thrills. If that were it, Tiana wouldn't me that interesting to me. But there are strong indications of deeper motivation hidden in her past. When she goes out to kill, she does it perhaps to imitate a vigilante hero from her childhood. I was excite read the sections narrated by her, which have a hard-boiled pulp feel to them. I loved following her adventures. She makes mistakes, she's not super-skilled, but she makes up for that with a nasty edge and being clever on her feet. I liked her moral ambiguity, but at the same time, I'm glad she wasn't over the top unpleasant like so many grimdark protagonists.
The world of Bubblegum was tantalizing, but I felt frustated at times that it wasn't explicitly fleshed out. I wanted to piece together how this recognizably American society became this way. I wanted to get a better understanding of what society considered right and wrong. I think the story could have done with a bit more background and detail in its worldbuilding.
Ultimately, I could forget those concerns, because the pace of the novel is cracking, with some unexpected twists and obstacles through things for fun loops. And there's always room for the world to be fleshed out more in the promised sequel. I'm looking forward to it!
Bubblegum is set in a cyberpunk-ish dystopia. Access is to everything is determined by your hardcoded social level. Law enforcement is paid through insurance coverage. It's recognizable as an American city, yet there's a monarchy. Familiar problems abound too: children trapped in a cycle of poverty, racism, transphobia.
The story centres on the unlikely partnership of Julia and Tiana as the latter starts a business as a killer for hire. Julia is the moral centre but Tiana is the star. She follows a warped moral code, seemingly motivated just by thrills. If that were it, Tiana wouldn't me that interesting to me. But there are strong indications of deeper motivation hidden in her past. When she goes out to kill, she does it perhaps to imitate a vigilante hero from her childhood. I was excite read the sections narrated by her, which have a hard-boiled pulp feel to them. I loved following her adventures. She makes mistakes, she's not super-skilled, but she makes up for that with a nasty edge and being clever on her feet. I liked her moral ambiguity, but at the same time, I'm glad she wasn't over the top unpleasant like so many grimdark protagonists.
The world of Bubblegum was tantalizing, but I felt frustated at times that it wasn't explicitly fleshed out. I wanted to piece together how this recognizably American society became this way. I wanted to get a better understanding of what society considered right and wrong. I think the story could have done with a bit more background and detail in its worldbuilding.
Ultimately, I could forget those concerns, because the pace of the novel is cracking, with some unexpected twists and obstacles through things for fun loops. And there's always room for the world to be fleshed out more in the promised sequel. I'm looking forward to it!
December 3, 2017
A free copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Some parts of this book were awesome, but other things didn't quite work for me. It took a while for me to read because I just never totally got into it.
I thought Tiana was a great character. She was exactly the kind of mostly amoral, money- (and sex-)motivated killer I like in a woman. She was a terrible person and totally unapologetic about it, which made for a strong narrative voice.
I was really intrigued by Julia as a character, but definitely wanted more character development and a more distinctive voice for her - it was sometimes hard to remember whether some passages were from her perspective, or a very mild section of Tiana's narration.
Ruby and William were fantastic side characters, although I didn't love the way Ruby's secret was developed - I didn't feel that keeping that part of her from the reader until the book was 75% done was really necessary. As I've said in other reviews, I don't like seeing that kind of information withheld as some sort of "twist."
The setting had a lot of potential, although I would have liked to know more details about how the world was structured. There were a few scenes that I could imagine quite well, but more often the information was too vague to give a clear picture.
The book did okay in terms of representation, as well, but I didn't enjoy Tiana's insistence that "guys can't be bisexual." That's a shitty stereotype that does a lot of harm, and I don't think the book does enough to reject her statement.
Some parts of this book were awesome, but other things didn't quite work for me. It took a while for me to read because I just never totally got into it.
I thought Tiana was a great character. She was exactly the kind of mostly amoral, money- (and sex-)motivated killer I like in a woman. She was a terrible person and totally unapologetic about it, which made for a strong narrative voice.
I was really intrigued by Julia as a character, but definitely wanted more character development and a more distinctive voice for her - it was sometimes hard to remember whether some passages were from her perspective, or a very mild section of Tiana's narration.
Ruby and William were fantastic side characters, although I didn't love the way Ruby's secret was developed - I didn't feel that keeping that part of her from the reader until the book was 75% done was really necessary. As I've said in other reviews, I don't like seeing that kind of information withheld as some sort of "twist."
The setting had a lot of potential, although I would have liked to know more details about how the world was structured. There were a few scenes that I could imagine quite well, but more often the information was too vague to give a clear picture.
The book did okay in terms of representation, as well, but I didn't enjoy Tiana's insistence that "guys can't be bisexual." That's a shitty stereotype that does a lot of harm, and I don't think the book does enough to reject her statement.
October 12, 2017
From the very first sentence, I was hooked. Sari takes you on the ride of your life through the pages of Bubblegum. This book is set in a dystopian world and it was perfect for the story. Now, when you are a level 2 ranks, you should come from money. That is until you get cut-off and have to have a means of keeping your rank. So, what do you do? You become a killer for hire!
When I saw the word murder, I was figuring this book would be a book about murdering anyone who got in her way. But instead, Tiana wanted to be a vigilante for those who couldn't take care of themselves. Oh, and it's not the bubblegum you're thinking about. It's a pink pistol with the name of Bubblegum! I mean how cool is that!?
This book gave me a run for my money, I loved every second! It was not an easy book to put down and I read well past my bedtime. Sari also did an amazing job of giving us a diversity of characters, that were all easy to fall in love with. Oh, and the hot guys will have you drooling, so read with a napkin.
So, if you love murder, sexy characters, and bubble, then this is a must read!
When I saw the word murder, I was figuring this book would be a book about murdering anyone who got in her way. But instead, Tiana wanted to be a vigilante for those who couldn't take care of themselves. Oh, and it's not the bubblegum you're thinking about. It's a pink pistol with the name of Bubblegum! I mean how cool is that!?
This book gave me a run for my money, I loved every second! It was not an easy book to put down and I read well past my bedtime. Sari also did an amazing job of giving us a diversity of characters, that were all easy to fall in love with. Oh, and the hot guys will have you drooling, so read with a napkin.
So, if you love murder, sexy characters, and bubble, then this is a must read!
December 29, 2017
I received this book for free after winning a contest on Twitter. This review is my honest opinion.
"Bubblegum" was nothing like I expected. I didn't read a full blurb about the novel prior to reading, I only had a one-sentence elevator pitch to go on.
It's rare that I like a book with an unlikeable main character, but it works for Tiana in this novel. She's hopelessly flawed but also has depth and vulnerability that comes out as the story progresses. The other characters of Ruby, Julia, and Pilgrim were nice and believable.
The story was fast-paced and kept my attention. I was a bit confused by the dystopian society in which the characters' lived because I felt like it wasn't explained as well as it could have been. I can tell the author put a lot of thought into this novel and recommend it to anyone who likes action and suspense with a hint of romance.
"Bubblegum" was nothing like I expected. I didn't read a full blurb about the novel prior to reading, I only had a one-sentence elevator pitch to go on.
It's rare that I like a book with an unlikeable main character, but it works for Tiana in this novel. She's hopelessly flawed but also has depth and vulnerability that comes out as the story progresses. The other characters of Ruby, Julia, and Pilgrim were nice and believable.
The story was fast-paced and kept my attention. I was a bit confused by the dystopian society in which the characters' lived because I felt like it wasn't explained as well as it could have been. I can tell the author put a lot of thought into this novel and recommend it to anyone who likes action and suspense with a hint of romance.
September 20, 2017
I was sent an ARC copy of this book from the author to review.
So let me start off by saying: this book really surprised me! I loved how diverse the characters were (like Julia being a lesbian and the bisexual and transgender characters found further on in the story) and I feel like they were all represented well and not just in stereotypes. The romances and friendships all felt real and genuine, especially the fxf relationship later on in the book. The writing was well thought out and I really liked how the author linked the characters backstories so that it made sense, like with one of the main villains having a romantic link to another main character.
Tiana was probably my favourite character in this book as she really lived up to the funny, flirty badass the synopsis portrayed her as plus I also loved Julia and how her personality contrasted with Tiana's. Their friendship kind of reminded me of Sherlock and Watson, with the whole investigation aspect. Another one of my favourite characters was Ruby, who we meet later on in the book in 'Bobby's Place' who loves blowing things up!
While reading this, I felt constantly excited, as if I was watching an action movie (side note: this would make a fantastic movie!) and the personalities of the characters really helped create that atmosphere e.g. Ruby's fascination with explosives and Tiana's 'hero' attitude. In fact, I enjoyed this book so much that it only took me two days to read it (with school in between).
Another thing I noticed is how the author had clearly found inspiration in things like action/superhero movies as the fight scenes were really immersive (and quite graphic in some places).
To be perfectly honest, I could not see any fault in the writing, characters or story of this book. It was engaging throughout, the characters were interesting and unique and the diversity made it so that it was a five star book for me!
Sequel, please? ~
Meg
So let me start off by saying: this book really surprised me! I loved how diverse the characters were (like Julia being a lesbian and the bisexual and transgender characters found further on in the story) and I feel like they were all represented well and not just in stereotypes. The romances and friendships all felt real and genuine, especially the fxf relationship later on in the book. The writing was well thought out and I really liked how the author linked the characters backstories so that it made sense, like with one of the main villains having a romantic link to another main character.
Tiana was probably my favourite character in this book as she really lived up to the funny, flirty badass the synopsis portrayed her as plus I also loved Julia and how her personality contrasted with Tiana's. Their friendship kind of reminded me of Sherlock and Watson, with the whole investigation aspect. Another one of my favourite characters was Ruby, who we meet later on in the book in 'Bobby's Place' who loves blowing things up!
While reading this, I felt constantly excited, as if I was watching an action movie (side note: this would make a fantastic movie!) and the personalities of the characters really helped create that atmosphere e.g. Ruby's fascination with explosives and Tiana's 'hero' attitude. In fact, I enjoyed this book so much that it only took me two days to read it (with school in between).
Another thing I noticed is how the author had clearly found inspiration in things like action/superhero movies as the fight scenes were really immersive (and quite graphic in some places).
To be perfectly honest, I could not see any fault in the writing, characters or story of this book. It was engaging throughout, the characters were interesting and unique and the diversity made it so that it was a five star book for me!
Sequel, please? ~
Meg
June 6, 2019
*receiving an ARC from the Author doesn’t affect my honest opinions*
Trigger Warnings: Sex Trafficking, Biphobia, Blood, Sex, Prostitution, Profanity, Guns, Corpse, Cannibalism, Alcohol, Smoking
Let’s take a moment to appreciate how beautiful and lively the cover art is! Bubblegum discusses the dark truths within society that is hidden and silenced. This novel does have a kick ass female protagonist, but also has underlying tones to it such as Sex Trafficking which can be incredibly secretive and overlooked. I appreciate Sari shedding light to such a traumatic & heavy subject that’s written so beautifully. There is also a Trans & Bisexual relationship in this book which is defined properly, beautifully & such phenomenal rep.
The characters are incredibly diverse, flawed and lovable. Throughout the novel it’s incredibly action packed, fast paced, LGBTQ characters, strong feminist characters and bloodshed. I’d like to mention that this book made me LITERALLY cry which can be hard to do.
Within the story everyone has ranks based on their bracelet color and people who have a high ranking status they have the liberty to get away with anything which can include Murder, Sex Trafficking etc. The police have no power to stop them. How dark and chaotic do you think it can go?
This book is an example of what the future can be which can be quite scary to think.
The ending really made me contemplate whether there will be a sequel to a jaw dropping last few chapters. (There WILL be & has been confirmed by the Author). I still have so many mixed emotions about it wow… I’m utterly astonished. This book also had many plot twists that caught me off guard and a few that didn’t. After I finished reading Bubblegum I couldn’t stop thinking about it DAYS after I read it. The ending made me so emotional and it’s jaw dropping as well. How does a Dystopian LGBTQ Thriller that’s action packed not sound like a phenomenal read?
If you’re searching for an action packed, fast paced novel with LGBTQ Feminist leads, this is a perfect read for you! Check out my blog: Majesticreadingblog.wordpress.com For more reviews & an Interview with the Author!
Trigger Warnings: Sex Trafficking, Biphobia, Blood, Sex, Prostitution, Profanity, Guns, Corpse, Cannibalism, Alcohol, Smoking
Let’s take a moment to appreciate how beautiful and lively the cover art is! Bubblegum discusses the dark truths within society that is hidden and silenced. This novel does have a kick ass female protagonist, but also has underlying tones to it such as Sex Trafficking which can be incredibly secretive and overlooked. I appreciate Sari shedding light to such a traumatic & heavy subject that’s written so beautifully. There is also a Trans & Bisexual relationship in this book which is defined properly, beautifully & such phenomenal rep.
The characters are incredibly diverse, flawed and lovable. Throughout the novel it’s incredibly action packed, fast paced, LGBTQ characters, strong feminist characters and bloodshed. I’d like to mention that this book made me LITERALLY cry which can be hard to do.
Within the story everyone has ranks based on their bracelet color and people who have a high ranking status they have the liberty to get away with anything which can include Murder, Sex Trafficking etc. The police have no power to stop them. How dark and chaotic do you think it can go?
This book is an example of what the future can be which can be quite scary to think.
The ending really made me contemplate whether there will be a sequel to a jaw dropping last few chapters. (There WILL be & has been confirmed by the Author). I still have so many mixed emotions about it wow… I’m utterly astonished. This book also had many plot twists that caught me off guard and a few that didn’t. After I finished reading Bubblegum I couldn’t stop thinking about it DAYS after I read it. The ending made me so emotional and it’s jaw dropping as well. How does a Dystopian LGBTQ Thriller that’s action packed not sound like a phenomenal read?
If you’re searching for an action packed, fast paced novel with LGBTQ Feminist leads, this is a perfect read for you! Check out my blog: Majesticreadingblog.wordpress.com For more reviews & an Interview with the Author!
Read
March 17, 2018DNF; most likely will pick up later on
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