Hi everyone, welcome back to my blog! This year I have barely posted any reviews, mostly sticking to wrap ups and WWW updates but one of my goals for the year was to read more 2021 releases (which I’ve hardly been doing) so I figured to try and keep myself accountable I’d most some mini-reviews of 2021 releases and chat with you all about them!
🌈 ↣ queer characters
🎧 ↣ listened on audiobook
THAT WAY MADNESS LIES: 15 OF SHAKESPEARE’S MSOT NOTABLE WORKS REIMAGINED – EDITED BY DAHLIA ADLER | ⭐⭐⭐
YA, Short Stories, Retellings/Reimagings, Queer main characters, Queer side characters | 🌈🎧
Goodreads Review / Storygraph Review
I am traditionally not a short story reader – I usually DNF collections like these or just ignore them altogether since it’s so rare for me to read a short story and enjoy it. But, then I heard about a collection inspired by Shakespeare’s works and on top of that, that some of my favourite authors would be a part of it and I knew this would be the be all end all for myself and short stories.
I still think that I am 99% not a lover of short stories but, I did genuinely enjoy some of these which I think was entirely down to the writers. I genuinely think that I would read a shopping list if it was written by K Ancrum or Anna-Marie Mclemore.
TW: racism, antisemitism, homophobia, child neglect, physical abuse/violence, child abuse, emotional abuse, grooming, loss of a loved one, self-harm, miscarriage
EVERY VOW YOU BREAK – PETER SWANSON | ⭐.5
Adult, Thriller, Mystery | 🎧
Goodreads Review / Storygraph Review
I…I don’t actually know what to say right now. I was really excited to read this one, particularly since I’ve never read any of Peter Swanson’s books before but have heard good reviews so to say this book came as a bit of a shock to me is an understatement. I just felt the whole time that the author didn’t actually understand how scary men can be to and against women but he used it as a plot point anyway. A distinctly un-thrilling thriller, a bad plot with a conclusion that makes zero sense and a total waste of time.
THE EX TALK – RACHEL LYNN SOLOMON | ⭐⭐⭐.5
Adult, Contemporary Romance | 🎧
Goodreads Review / Storygraph Review
This was so good until that last chapter (+ epilogue) lol. I genuinely had so much fun reading this, from the main plot to the characters I just never wanted to put it down but then the ending was so offputting to me that it lost a half star 🙈, sorry ’bout it. (It’s nothing bad at all, I just dislike the trope).
Which 2021 releases have you read so far this year?
Which 2021 books are you most anticipating?
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allonsythornraxx 
Oh no. I don’t know anything about the Swanson book but I’ve seen the cover everywhere. And your review. Eek. Perhaps he needed some female beta readers…
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Ugh, it was such a disappointing read, I really wish he’d had a female beta reader yeah, this was just UGH
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