Maddie > Recent Status Updates

This is an incredibly slow burn but MAN it's paying off well. I'm really enjoying the second half of the book.

It's kinda fun that so far I have listened to exactly 10% of the book every time I pick it up lol

So far, this is more validation than new knowledge, but I'm so curious how this book would've been written if it was published after COVID. Most of the concepts remain the same, but the dynamics are definitely different.

Yessss finally on Fliss even though Reka's story was a pleasant surprise. I really hope Fliss isn't one of the bodies tho 😭

As much as I would love to delete all of my social media and live as far away from screens as possible, I do also enjoy this book's take that some social media interaction can still create value.

I really enjoy the individual characters and their stories, but gosh this is going so slow for me. I have no idea why I'm not enjoying the audiobook as much as I should.

Alright Louis Sachar - that's pretty clever of you lmao

Oof. This is a thicc girl book if I only got 10% read on my Saturday walk with my dog. 💀

I'm actually really enjoying this. It feels like the classic fantasy that I grew up and I think people who leave it poor reviews just forgot how to enjoy a fantasy book without smut or snark or morally gray characters.

Call me a bad millennial, but I'm so secondhand stressed from the idea this guy is getting a tattoo just to impress his crush.

I'm sorry but I'm still really struggling to connect to the characters. It's not bad, but they're definitely not in my faves for B.K. Borison books. The rom-com moments are fun tho.

Ughhhh I'm so close to the end but I want to enjoy the ending and it's officially lunch time 😭 I'll have to try to finish it while cooking dinner tonight. It's so good!!!

Holy heck this is way more physical than other B.K. Borison books.

I already don't really like the dynamic of "you only like being single because you haven't met The One™ yet" being pushed by everyone else who is happy in their relationships in this book, but I have full faith it'll come around.

I just don't understand the conflict here. If they have crushes on each other, and they're both single, and they're both consenting and can't keep their hands off each other, what is the problem??? Why can't they date?? If it's truly just "he can't give her what she deserves" then he just needs to back off fully, right? Because this is dating. They're essentially dating right now.

Doctor Wong SUCKS

Is this book making me believe in love again? Because it's kind of making me believe in love again.

My "read every BK Borison book I can get my hands on" quest is going well. Am I selfish for wanting this book without the single mom trope tho? Would've loved this type of character without the weird convoluted explanation for why the kid exists.

Gosh I'm really enjoying the historical aspect of this. The blend of history with Chinese medicine and women's rights is really well done so far.

ARE YOU ACTUALLY KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW

Are you

I'm so.

This is so upsetting. I'm so upset right now. Everything about this is upsetting.

Ryker ruined this book.

I forgot reading YA is an absolute nightmare sometimes.

J-Bone!!!! Also gosh I still love how much love is in this book. I'm thrilled. This is thrilling.

We kind of lost the plot with Ryker. I was fully prepared for 400 pages of surviving an all female Lord of the Flies situation with an absolutely unhinged and insane female villain.

The children remain a delight but gosh this story is slogging a bit.

Gosh Kiersten is such a good villain. I absolutely despise this girl and I'm terrified about what she can do.

Oh HELL yeah! YA dystopian is SO BACK, baby 😎

The "should" section was poorly articulated. I understand the purpose was to convince people with imaginary rules about what they "should" do to practice what they "want" instead, but if you suffer from executive dysfunction then practicing "should" is more beneficial than practicing "want" to dos.

Like "should" cleaning the house makes you feel better in the long run even if you don't "want" to