book.dreamblog’s Book Reviews!

Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie: Book Review  *Warning: This review contains spoilers* *Content Warning: This review mentions drug usage and addiction*  Introduction  Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones and the Six will either gladly eat this novel alive out of how similar it is to the former, or they will decry it as a rip-off. While the two are very similar in plots and themes, they’re written in drastically different styles. As far as their similarities, there’s only so much difference that can be made between two novels that are both loosely based on 70s musicians, with Daisy Jones and the Six being inspired by Fleetwood Max and Songs in Ursa Major being loosely based on Joni Mitchell’s career. It’s sex, drugs, & rock ‘n’ roll both ways, so obviously similarities are to be expected. So I don’t hold the similarities against Ursa Major too much, even if I personally preferred Daisy Jones.  Summary & Review  Songs in Ursa Major gets a lot right...

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins: Book Review  *Warning: This review contains spoilers*  Introduction  When I first found out about this book, I really wanted to love it. I mean, a modern Jane Eyre retelling? It’s every literature nerd’s dream come true! My biggest problem with Jane Eyre, like most people, was that there wasn’t enough focus of that huge plot revelation that Rochester literally had his wife locked upstairs and faked her death.  I went into this book hoping that it would be more of a focus on that aspect of the story, which, to be fair, it was. But the execution just wasn’t what I wanted it to be. It was… a lot less feminist than I was hoping for.  Summary & Review  If you’re looking for a story that actually has a character worth rooting for, you won’t find it here! Unfortunately, The Wife Upstairs follows the recent tradition of mystery-thriller books not having any likable characters. I get that when writing a murder mystery, you’re...

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Book Review  *Warning: This review contains spoilers*  Introduction  This is the third book in TJR’s infamous “Mick Riva Universe,” and it’s the third TJR book I read after Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo in the incorrect order because I didn’t know they were part of a continued universe, it’s the installment set in the 80s (with Daisy being the 70s, Rvelyn set primarily in the 60s, and the fourth installment following this one covering the 90s), and it’s the only book in the four books set in this universe that doesn’t contain the first and last name of the female protagonist (I’m so sorry Nina Riva, you deserved the spotlight).  Look, are these books serious literature? No. But I enjoy them nonetheless, they’re fun and entertaining and sometimes emotional, and I like the way that Taylor Jenkins Reid managed to create a literary universe that is more satisfying when you realize the books all go together, but at the same time don’t r...

  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen  * Warning: This review contains spoilers* Introduction It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.  Oh wait, that's the wrong piece of classic literature. However, my sentiment while reading this book is much the same.  This is going to be a rather controversial review given how beloved this novel is and has been over the course of decades. Though I'm not slamming it or giving it 2 stars, I'm also not going to be giving it a perfect 5 star rating either. So, if you are a Jane Austen die-hard, I would recommend perhaps turning back now. That being said, for those who stayed, I want to make a few things quite clear: I didn't dislike Pride and Prejudice, and I don't think it is a bad book at all. It aged better than a lot of old classics did, and I do understand why so many people hold it in such high regard. I think maybe it just wasn't for me.  Summary and Review The hardest thing about reading this novel is what I f...

  The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid *This review contains spoilers*  *Content Warning* This review mentions suicide and terminal illness. Introduction  The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is often regarded as one of bookstagram’s darlings. It’s received an outpouring of 5 star reviews from across the book-loving community. And there truly is a lot to like about it, from its old Hollywood aesthetic to its unapologetic cast of LGBT characters, and its complex morally gray protagonist.  But does it live up to the hype? The answer for me is yes and no.  Summary and Review Like I said, there is a lot to love in this book. It has LGBT characters in all the leading roles (featuring a gay man, a lesbian woman, and a bisexual WOC), with a W/W main couple—which is something I love. Most mainstream and popular novels always center around straight characters and couples, and if they feature queer characters, they’re usually just relegated to the backg...

  The Secret History by Donna Tartt *This review contains spoilers* Content Warning:  This review mentions incest.  Introduction  Before I bought this novel, I was given two very specific instructions from one of my literature professors in college.  Read The Secret History. Only read it during a snow storm.  So I waited until the first major snowstorm of the winter, and then I dove into this amazing book.  At first I didn’t understand why I was supposed to read this book in winter, because a large majority of the beginning takes place during summer. Once I got to Richard’s near freeze-to-death experience and Bunny’s murder, I completely understood.  And I fell in love with this book. The references to Greek mythology, the dark academia vibes, the reverse murder mystery, the small town college aesthetic, the way that Donna Tartt made me empathize with characters who are literal murderers? It’s all so well done.  Summary and Review At first, t...

  Daisy Jones and Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid  *This review contains spoilers* Content Warning This review discusses drug and alcohol abuse and abortion. Introduction I'll preface this review by admitting freely, first hand, that I absolutely loved this novel. I had heard good things about it before I started it, but Taylor Jenkins Reid managed to exceed all my expectations. This book was so different from anything I've ever read, and it was done so remarkably well.  Summary & Review The style that Daisy Jones & the Six is written in definitely takes some getting used to when you first start reading. It's not a traditionally written novel, with the narration of actions and the protagonists' thoughts, nor with dialogue written in quotations. Instead, the novel feels almost like it's written as a play, only without the stage directions. It is entirely written with the name of the character, followed by a colon and their dialogue, with no narration used to desc...