Review - The Upside of Unrequited

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

5 out of 5 gnomes

I zipped right through this book in just a day. It caught me hook, line and sinker, Molly’s character was just so relatable. There were plenty of quirky situations, yes but they felt charming and not forced or cliche like some contemporary books do.

Molly’s inner monologue and feelings will hit you right in the heart and might remind you a lot of your teenage self. I mean this first line really shows a lot of what to expect humor wise: “I’M ON THE TOILET AT the 9: 30 Club, and I’m wondering how mermaids pee.” Then this quote really got to me too, “I wish I were the kind of person who knows how to fill a silence.”

I love how close Molly and her family are. The dynamic between her and her twin sister, moms, and little brother are really well done.

Then there’s Molly’s love life. It gets interesting really fast. There’s a bit of a love triangle but it’s much more tolerable than they usually are. It’s not a surprise who she chooses really but oh is it a fun ride getting there.

Overall, well worth reading for the characters and really quotable quotes.

My Favorite Quotes/Lines - The Upside of Unrequited

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

“There’s just something about this kind of moment— this tiny thread connecting me to a total stranger. It’s the kind of thing that makes the universe feel smaller. I really love that.”

“I do wonder, sometimes, what people think when they see me.”

“I wish I were the kind of person who knows how to fill a silence.”

“I don’t entirely understand how anyone gets a boyfriend. Or a girlfriend. It just seems like the most impossible odds. You have to have a crush on the exact right person at the exact right moment. And they have to like you back. A perfect alignment of feelings and circumstances. It’s almost unfathomable that it happens as often as it does.”

“So, I guess there are parents who like to roll their babies up like blunts.”

“Here’s a frustrating thing about me: if everyone else is happy, I usually can’t stay pissed off. My moods are conformists. It sucks, because sometimes you really want to be angry.”

“I’ve never really joked around with a boy like this before. Not where I was the one making the jokes. I think I like it.”

“No matter how unlikely, I always have a secret shred of hope. And as feelings go, that’s a pretty addictive one.”

“Aww, you guys will always be our bastards.”

“God, this phone number thing. Not that it’s a thing. It’s definitely not a thing. And I don’t know why I’m suddenly so breathless. I guess lungs are giant traitors. As are stomachs. As are heartbeats.”

“I’m proud of my shit.”

“I’m telling you: life is too short for this bullshit.”

“I feel vaguely nauseated. Like a weirdly pleasant norovirus. Kind of the halfway point between vomiting and becoming a sentient heart-eye emoji.”

“Okay, you know the emoji that’s laughing and crying all at once? It’s that. I am that.”

“I think every relationship is actually a million relationships. I can’t decide if that’s a bad thing.”

Review - Final Girls

Final Girls by Mira Grant

5 out of 5 gnomes

This was a short but excellent story.

Takes a potent look at technology/fear and how it could theoretically mix via virtual reality. Grant is a real master at bringing horror scenarios to life and making you care about characters fast.

Fiction and reality become intertwined when horror shows up in the real world. These final girls, the skeptic and the inventor of the technology, are thrust together through technology and may never be the same again.

That ending is what really gets me though and makes it a 5/5 kind of story. You think it's going to have an expected ending and then WAM you get to see the repercussions of it all.

What book are you excited to read next?

I adore this series and look forward to every one. The world and characters are such that you truly care about them. It’s a read that you know is always going to be fun with a great mix of suspense and awesomeness too.

Review - The Demon Prince

The Demon Prince by Ann Aguirre

* Received from the author for review

5 out of 5 gnomes

This series is so good. The world is really immersive and you'll find yourself clamoring to figure out what happens next.

Even the politics of it all are fascinating. All the different shifters who definitely don't get along and the various customs lead to plenty of conflict throughout the story.

Sheyla and Alastor are a formidable pair. I've been curious about Alastor since the first book. Sheyla is the perfect foil for him and vice versa. I also adore the humor along with the seriousness that these two have.

Their story along with the continuing war effort are really well done. You will find yourself rooting for this couple/wanting them to make it work.

Their attitudes and chemistry are pretty darn electric and yes there are plenty of sexy times too.

This world and characters continue to impress, I'm looking forward to the next book.