Margot & Me, while set in contemporary times also grapples with the past set during World War II through a diary. What I loved about this book was how the stories of three generations knitted together. Fliss and her grandmother, Margot, were so at odds that Fliss’s mother was the only reason they put up with one another. Watching that relationship develop throughout the pages was immensely touching. Although, how Fliss came to read Margot’s diary didn’t entirely sit well with me. But you know, curiosity and what not…
COUNTING STARS by Keris Stainton
Books set in university that aren’t entirely pre-occupied with romance are surprisingly tough to find. During my own undergraduate studies I wished for so many more but had to make do with books set in high school. Maybe “make do” sounds like I didn’t enjoy those books but I did. It’s just that the university setting tends to be rather neglected. That’s why I was pretty excited to learn that Counting Stars featured university students.
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR by Julie Maroh
Right from the first beginning we’re told that the main character, Clementine is dead. We relive her life through her diary entries. It was evident right from the start that Blue is the Warmest Color is a sad book but it wasn’t cheapened by shocking anyone with Clementine’s death. No, this graphic novel focused on the journey. In doing so, it shed light on her hopes and dreams, and struggles and despair.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE by Jennifer E. Smith
With a page count of 416, I expected way more out of This is What Happy Looks Like. I’m convinced that even with 300 pages, the story would’ve had adequate room to breathe. In fact, I expect a whole lot more depth out of a thicker book, especially when it’s Contemporary. There’s little world building…
ANGUS, THONGS AND FULL-FRONTAL SNOGGING by Louise Rennison
There were a lot of things about this book that I didn’t particularly like but to be fair, I did smirk and laugh a lot. Georgia was hilarious, if a little neurotic. She obsessed about some of the weirdest things and there were only so many times I could gloss over a character flippantly saying…
