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I decided to reread this after childhood partly because I wanted to see what it was like as an adult and with the ability to critically analyze. Especially because I’ve heard that modern libraries are culling these books because they’re out of date and racist and I wanted to see what I found since so many other people regard these as modern classics.

Now she’s googling the name of the dead guy. Like that’s not how they prove things in court in 2026.

Just a deeply unsexy love triangle between a mother, her daughter and a man who played the mother’s son on TV making the whole relationship feel so incestuous and with weird age differences that every interaction is uncomfortable to the reader. And that’s before we get into the whole money, power, race elements to each of the relationships.

It feels like this book is deliberately crude, provocative, unflinching, disgusting and while I believe the author is capable of that style of writing in a good way, like shining a light on society. There’s a hatred, cynicism and bitterness (along the with slow meandering of a lack of plot) to this story that is really off putting.

I think this book is just bad. Deliberately “provocative”. Like sure, describe a period blood clot.

Also every single relationship in this is age-gap. Super icky! Get some fucking peers please, I’m begging you.

Maybe it’s been a while since I last read a book by Choi but boy does this book come across as bitter. Also what’s with 2026 lit-fit using gnats as a symbol. Did everyone attend the same writing retreat?

Reading this while on a flight to the Bay Area and then having turbulence so bad that I fainted is really the perfect way to experience this book the way it’s supposed to be enjoyed. Not really.

Chipping away at this book, from dumb choice by our protagonist to dumber choice. The latest, she charged up the dead guy’s cellphone and has been keeping it on her as she goes about her day.

Googling “Boise average temperature by month” to find out that no, it’s not consistently below freezing everyday during the winter. Highs are usually around 40°. WHICH IS NOT COLD ENOUGH TO STORE A DEAD BODY IN YOUR TRUNK OR BACKYARD. CALL THE COPS ALREADY!! This book is stressing me out. It’s supposed to be funny. But can it get funny once this mysterious corpse is gone, please?

I’d really love to be able to turn my brain off while reading a humorous who-done-it but this book has me googling “Idaho strip club liquor laws”. Topless dancers in thongs while doing tequila shots? I don’t [over]think so.

if this is sapphic and set in an alternate world where women can hold titles, then why is the hetronormativity killing me

Having read Yesteryear recently, this is potentially pushing me over my limit on delulu female narrators. At least this story is kinda funny.

I genuinely cannot tell if the unreliable narrator is lying to me or if the author is just ignorant of Idaho farm life. But so many little details in this book aren’t accurate. I keep wanting to shout “that’s not how that works” and I’m not even a farmer!

For fans of Emily Henry who want to push themselves with something a little more literary in 2026. Soapy, fast paced and enjoyable so far.

Since when is it okay to beat-for-beat copy classic books? I’m looking at you The Favorites.
This is a retelling of The Great Gatsby with a diverse cast of characters set in 2007 Brooklyn, just before the recession. Unlike Gatsby, there’s a lot of meandering thoughts about what it means to be young, a POC, and broke in this up and coming New York scene. Something the author dubs an “In-Superiority Complex”

Really excited to start reading this one! KJ Charles posted a glowing review way back in November for a book that doesn’t publish until June that she received because they share the same publisher. My first NetGalley ARC that I’m really excited about.

[rant incoming] This series really went off the rails. The first 2 were actually decent. And this one is super uncomfortable; the dubious consent and power dynamics between the Lord of the Manor and female hired companion is icky. He keeps kissing her and I don’t like it. And then we finally get introduced to the secondary couple in the book and that guy kisses the bff girl right away too!

This book is a slow slog. Didn’t see the twist coming, but it also didn’t excite me, just a groan of “these people are stupid, and there’s no way they thought that would work.” Diana is a villain.

This author is so talented. I love banter and shenanigans, but make it a historical romance. Also lots of illicit kissing!

A hand job? the spice in this is so hit-or-miss

Boy this book is racist. Avoiding a topic (the Native American indigenous people of Oregon) by omission, is really fucking racist.

This is the best mistaken-identity meet-cute, with characters overacting and pretend to faint to get out of a lie, and stolen kisses scene I’ve ever read!!! Ten out of ten stars. I’m hooked!