Thank you Putnam for the Netgalley ARC

What a whirlwind of a novel! Dominion is the page-turning, first installment of the Silk and Iron Trilogy. It follows a young woman, Rubi, a refugee of the Azure dominion and her journey to unlocking her hidden memories. In order to obtain the boon to unlock all that she has lost, she unwilling enters a Silver Dominion ceremony and bonds with the only remaining Tygeress and becomes a target for all who wants her power.

This book has so many moving factors which makes the pacing quite fast. I devoured this book in two days, however, there were many points where I felt like I would have liked there build up whether plot related or character related. For example, The Bonding ceremony is supposed to be this brutal and highly revered ceremony for warriors to bond with a Tyger, and it happened in a span of 4 pages. That felt very short to me, especially given that prior to the event, the ceremony was built up to be this massive and grueling test. Rubi struggled, but it felt like the conflict resolved easily. And I feel like that is how most of the conflict in this book is handled. Things tend to work out in Rubi's favor for the most part, which is fine, but it just didn't feel fully earned. I often felt underwhelmed by the handling of high-conflict moments.

I also found the relationship between Rubi and Blake to be underwhelming. There was very little build up and motivation from Blake's part. Again, I think it has to do with the overall pacing. It went so fast, that the characters didn't have much of a chance to create and grow their relationships, so it felt very one dimensional. Because of the lack of romantic tension, I felt more drawn to Jace, the captain of the silver warriors, because his rapport with Rubi felt more natural.

Despite these main points, I believe this series has so much promise. The concept of four dominions being ravaged by a demon race, and how they need to band together and use their magic to save their world is very interesting. I feel like the next books have so much potential and I look forward to reading them when they come out.

I'm hoping that the romance ends up being a why choose, but given that it's called the Silk and Iron trilogy, I have a feeling that Rubi and Blake are endgame (blegh).

I am absolutely flummoxed! I do not understand how this series has such a chokehold on me. Riftan and Maxi are so infuriatingly uncommunicative throughout their relationship, and yet, I'm still rooting for them. I believe this is a testament to the author's storytelling capabilities because despite my frustrations, I am completely captivated by this series.

In this third installment of Under the Oak Tree, the story quickly follows the second book. The Remdragon Knights have made it across the channel to aid in the battle as per the King's request. Instead of joining the battle immediately, they stopy by a monastery to drop Maxi off to be protected by the Duke of Aren. During her time at the monastery, Maxi uses her healing knowledge and magic to help the local townsfolk along with other noble women under the monastery's protection. When word that the battle has gotten worse comes to town, Maxi and a new friend, come up with a plan to join a caravan into the battle as medical support.

I would say about 50-60% of the book is centered around this specific battle, but what really kept me at the edge of my seat was the last 40% of the story. There's a huge emotional turn that really sets the series in motion. From what I found online, Books 1-3 are considered season 1 of the story. Season 2 will begin after the release of Book 4 which is a Riftan POV novel.

I'm hoping Riftan's POV helps round out his character because this man's overprotectiveness has gone too far. It has gotten so controlling and obsessive to the point that it feels abusive.

At the end of the day, I am a Maxi girl through and through. I will ride for her! She has suffered enough. And I will not accept slander of her even in her densest moments. She is a survivor who is paving a path towards freedom and power for herself and while her emotional journey is not perfect, she deserves grace and dignity to be her own person.

Thank you Random House Worlds and Inklore for the Netgalley ARC. I cannot wait to read the next novel!

Thank you Viking Books for the Netgalley ARC

Leave and Come Back felt like an immigrant's ode to Bollywood. It's a romantic, family drama-filled novel that focuses on Simran, a woman in her 30s from Chennai who immigrated to Canda from New Jersey 6-7 years after a falling out with her aunt. After a sad, yet happy birthday, she is forced to go back to New Jersey for her cousin's wedding and is put in a situation to confront her aunt. Meanwhile, Simran's new boyfriend (long time friend), Leo, is thrusted into a sticky situation to win Simran's aunty over, in order to prove that he is someone worthy of dating Simran. Through operation DDLJ, Simran and Leo immerse themselves in the chaos of being with family for a wedding, and find a way to gain acceptance of their love despite their cultural differences.

While this story seems convoluted due to my terrible summarization skills, it really is a simple story about an Indian woman with family trauma who is in love with a white man, who just wants to be a part of her life and her family.

It's a solid romance with many funny moments and heartwarming ones as well.

I have two reasons why I gave it a 4 star rating. The first: this is more personal, but I'm so tired of interracial stories between a woman of color and a white man. Why can't the MMC be a different kind of Asian, or Black, or Latino? Why is the default for interracial relationships to be a poc with a white person? I'm tired of it. I think this novel would be even more dynamic if it was between someone of racial background other than white, because there would be more layers to parse out. The second: I am usually a huge fan of Asian family trauma, but I find that the parents or in this case, the aunt receives so much more grace then the "child"/main character. A huge chunk of the guilt is placed on Simran in this case, and her aunt was easily forgiven. As a daughter of immigrants, I get it. You can't just cut off family especially when so much of your community and culture is tied to them, but of me feels like the parental figures in these sort of stories shouldn't have an easy path to forgiveness. They should be challenged a bit more, given that they made choices that caused emotional harm.

While I may feel this way, I ultimately, enjoyed the overall narrative and I am curious to see what Lavanya Lakshmi writes next!

Thank you to Random House Children's Books for the NetGalley ARC

Wow. This was exactly what I needed to read this week.

Rolls and Rivalry is sweet friends to rivals to lovers romance about Hazel, an ambitious colorguard captain who's always wanted to DM a D&D game, and Max, Hazel's nerdy, childhood friend and crush who moves back to town and joins the percussion section (the rivals section of color guard) of the marching band. Although the two have a history of friendship, their reunion after many years apart is anything but friendly, so the story is about how they choose to bury the hatchet and find a way back into one another's lives as friends and as romantic interests.

I needed to read this story this week because it reminded me how precious young love is. It is sometimes messy, and snarky, but it is also tender, and thoughtful in ways that just differ from adult romance. There's a softness that really shines through in this kind of story. You see it in the way Hazel cares about her friends and her colorguard mates, and you also see it in the way she forgives Max after he was rude to her in the beginning of their school year.

This is definitely a book that I would recommend to teens and even adults who want to feel the fluttering sensation of first love. It's cheesy and corny, but it is something sweet to consume when life is feeling bitter.

I know some people have said that they didn't like this book as much because it wasn't as D&D heavy, but I enjoyed the overall story. I think it had a healthy mix of marching band, romance, D&D, and parental pressure.

Thank you Feiwel & Friends for the Netgalley ARC

Behind Five Willows was exactly what i was looking for in a Pride & Prejudice adaptation. It is a beautiful, slow-burn, historical romance set in 1790s (Joseon era) Korea. It focuses on Haewon, a young lady in society, secretly transcribing books in a time where fictional novels were being banned; and Seojun, the perfect/proper son of a magistrate, who yearns to write stories, and to be seen for more than the life his father has planned for him.

What made this novel so interesting was the plot and how it incorporated historical edicts such as the Marriage edict that enforced 200+ spinsters to marry within a specific timeframe, and the Restoration of a Pure Writing Style edict that prohibited the importation of Catholic and Chinese books, and the creation of fictional writing as a means to reinforce neo-confucianism among the Joseon people. The author's choice in using these edicts to set the scene really added to the concept of a Jane Austen adaptation because Pride & Prejudice isn't just a romance novel; it is a story about class, society, and womanhood in the regency era and how power is not something easily accessible to women or to those of lower standing, so to have Behind Five Willow explore the power struggle women face from a historical Korean lens, was a really great choice in my opinion. It highlighted the fact that there is so much more depth to the story of Pride & Prejudice.

These are small complaints, but the reason why I didn't give this book a full 5 stars was because I wished the other characters in the story were explored more. I wish Jane and Byeongho had more scenes for their romance to blossom. I wish Yeonhee was held accountable for her actions; she was let off pretty easily. And I wish we had more insight into Seojun's official proposal to Haewon, and how he fought to have her as his wife. If anything, I just wish this book was longer.

Aside from that, I found Behind Five Willows to be a sweet romance that really captures the yearning one feels when they've found their person.

Thank you Left Unread Books for the Netgalley ARC and Lavender PR for the physical ARC

Oh my gosh. Please tell me there's going to be a sequel because that final line has sent me into a frenzy. I need to know what's going to happen next for Nnenna and Lu!

Aside for my need for a second book, I just want to say that Devil of the Deep is such an elaborate and adventurous fantasy about Haitian inspired mermaids and pirates. It has everything from false gods, doomed romance, religious imperialism, and mythological creation story.

If you are in need of a book that is action packed novel set in a island-based world that interconnects the point of view of several characters to reveal the crux of the story, then this is a book worth reading.

Thank you Harelquin - Romance for the Netgalley ARC

The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley is a sweet, sapphic romance between the cold and judgemental, Caroline Bingley, and the seemingly perfect and accomplished, Georgiana Darcy. It follows the events after Elizabeth Bennet and FitzWilliam Darcy's marriage, and focuses on Caroline's plight that at the tender age of 23, she has yet to find a suitable match. With the help of Georgiana, Caroline learns to soften her edges and welcomes love into her life, no matter the societal costs.

Overall, I found this to be a cute and fun read. It's sweet and it challenges ideas of propriety in 19th century, British society. However, the conflict felt a bit dull and one note. While, Caroline and Georgiana have character development, they seem to go through hardship quite easily, so the stakes feel very low despite the fact that in this time period, they would be quite high.

I know that the author made a decision to age up Georgiana, so that it would be more acceptable, but I actually think that having her younger would've made the story more interesting. Acceptable in this time period, no, but I think with her aged up, there is a different power dynamic where she is much wealthier and empowered than the middle daughter of a passably wealthy family like the Bingleys. I think there are so many power dynamics that could've been explored and that could have made the conflict more intriguing if she was still a teenager who has just come out to society to one day be wed, and is now coming into her own sexuality and realizing that the norm of wanting to be with a man is something she has no real interest in. But i can see why the choice was made given that spice was included in the story.

Ultimately, if you are looking for something short and sweet with minimal conflict, then this would be a great book to read.

*Thank you to HarperAduio and Avon Books for the Netgalley ARC/ALC•

What an incredible audiobook! Vikas Adam and Vanessa Vasquez did a phenomenal job at bringing this story to life. I was immediately sucked in to Isa and Austin's romance. I started this book on April 29 at the beginning of my work day, and finished it one day later. I think that is a testament to how well it was narrated. I will say, I did cringe during the more spicier scenes, but I think that will always be the case whenever I listen to any book with smut.

As for the story itself, it follows Dr.Isabelle Mercado, an ambitious orthopedic surgery resident who is put in a tricky situation when she finds out that her "ex" is engaged to a wealthy socialite and is attending her best friend's wedding as the groom's guest. In order to save face and "get back" at her ex, she enlists the help of Austin Cade, retired pro-soccer player and patient to her attending surgeon, to be her fake boyfriend and plus one to the matrimonial events.

Fake-dating is a trope that I can't help but love. It 's so fun to witness characters fall in love while performing a "role" of some sort. It's one of those tropes that feels natural, so I'm glad that it was a big focus for this novel.

The one thing that drove me crazy was the short-lived, third act "break-up." It's my least favorite plot line in a book. Communication and reflection. That is all these characters need. You do not need to break up in order to find yourself. You can take a step back and look at the big picture without sabotaging the relationship.

This is my first Ava Rani read, and it certainly isn't my last. I wanted to note that I dm'd Ava Rani on Instagram and said that Out of Her League is like Grey's Anatomy without the blood and cutting. This is to say that if you like the allure and drama of Grey's, then I highly recommend reading this book.

Thank you HarperVia for the Netgalley Arc

Wow. Project V completely exceeded my expectations. I did not expect myself to read it in one sitting. When it comes to manga/anime, I've never really been the "biggest fan" of the mecha subgenre, so I was pleasantly surprised to find myself loving this novel.

It is a fast-paced story about a young woman, Wooram, who is both a pilot and engineer to her own mecha creation, Victory-2. She is offered a chance to represent Korea in becoming the first to pilot a giant mecha named V, but soon after she was recommended for the job, news broke out that a reality tv show was being made to find the pilot for Project V, and unfortunately, she did not meet the requirements due to the fact that she was not born a man.

This is a classic story about a woman pretending to be her twin brother in order to prove that she is just as good or even better. Throughout the story, we see how much more competent she is in comparison to all the other male contestants. She is dedicated to the craft and engineering of mecha, and does not see this contest as a bid for fame but as a way to get closer to the work that she is passionate about.

If you love stories about twins swapping places like She's the Man, or if you like the competition aspect of stories like Blue Lock, or if you are a fan of Mecha franchises like Evangelion, Voltron, or Gundam, then this is a book I'd highly recommend.

Thank you to Berkeley for sending an e-ARC through the Influencer Hub for Underrepresented Voices program

I'm going to preface this review by saying that I'm not sure how to rate this book.

Boring Asian Female is a literary thriller that seems to be a satirical take on the Asian American struggle when it comes to Ivy League acceptances. The book follows Elizabeth Zhang, a highly motivated Columbia University undergrad, vying for a spot in Harvard's coveted law school department. Despite her near perfect LSAT score and stunning academic resume, she is rejected from the program, which starts her downward spiral in trying to understand why she didn't get in when her classmate, Laura Kim, who doesn't seem like the "law-school type" was accepted.

It's hard for me to rate this book because I both loved it and hated it at the same time. I loved it because it was so engrossing and because the writing captured the essence of a pretentious Asian American going to an Ivy League who has never failed in their life. However, I found Elizabeth to be incredibly unhinged and insufferable. She doesn't know how to take accountability and she is so hyper-fixated in being the best and being a "good" Asian, that she doesn't care who she tears down in the process of being at the top percentile of her peers. She is the type to act on her intrusive thoughts, so as the story unfolds her actions become more and more absurd to the point that I had to constantly take breaks because I was getting second hand embarrassment from her thoughts and shenanigans.

I don't know if this is a book that I would recommend to everyone. I think it will find a following on its own. But if you enjoyed YellowFace and the movie, Book Smart, I think this might be a book of interest.

Thank you Kodansha Comics for the Netgalley ARC

Cat-Life Balance Vol. 1 is a refreshing office romance about two co-workers who cross paths after work and connect through their interest in taking care of outdoor community cats. The FMC gives off black cat energy, while the MMC gives off golden retriever energy.

I found this manga to be wholesome and refreshing. It's nice to see a romance about adults, especially when so much manga translated in English is catered to a younger demographic.

If you like cats, slow burn romance, and the push and pull of cat/dog energy, you will absolutely love this new series.

Thank You to Avon Books for the gifted ARC

Enemies to Lovers is an exciting, banter-filled, adventure/roadtrip/crime-adjacent romance novel about two unlikely romantic leads: Sejal Chaudhary, the on-the-run, eldest daughter of a powerful Indian crime family, and Krish Anand, a seemingly average, clean cut guy acting as FBI to find his missing brother.

I swear this book was such a trip! The banter and the yearning was top-notch, and the journey leading up to Sejal and Krish's romance was incredibly gripping. When it comes to the story, I would say that it took many twists and turns that made the Happily Ever After satisfying.

My biggest criticism for this book is that this book doesn't feel like a true Enemies to Lovers because they didn't actually hate each other. They didn't trust one another due to circumstance, but they were pretty into each other from the very beginning. It just took them time to build that connection to pursue the romance.

Also, I wish this book was a series because the ending felt a bit rushed when it came to wrapping it all up. I think a book focusing on Sejal's family and Krish's brother would really flesh out their storylines.

If you enjoy a good, adventure romance with a dash of crime and mystery, then I highly recommend adding this book to your tbr.

Thank you to S.J. Lee for the gifted ARC

All That Holds Between is a tender, speculative fiction novella that explores grief and the importance of holding onto memories, even the ones that hurt the most. This book follows Lena, a courier for Halcyon, a wellness company that provides memory clipping services to sell, dispose, or store unwanted memories.

Throughout the story, Lena is chasing after a distinct memory associated with cong bing, a type of scallion pancake. In her pursuit of finding the reason why someone would clip a seemingly happy memory, she unravels her own traumas and learns that memories shouldn't be erased and that grief is something earned.

I enjoyed this novella from the get-go. This book really is a master class on imagery. S. J. Lee does an incredible job in focusing on the five senses. You can really picture, smell, and taste the foods that are being written about. One of my favorite scenes was when Lena visits a place that sells fried chicken cutlets. I could taste the grease and the salt, and I could feel the crunch of the tender chicken. This scene had my stomach GROWLING.

The reason why I gave this book 4.5 stars is because there was a moment where I was becoming a bit impatient. I felt like I wanted to understand Lena's motivations on why she was chasing a memory that wasn't hers much sooner, however, I would say that the reveal was satisfying and while the lead-up felt a bit slow, it played an important role.

If you are a fan of Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind or Black Mirror, then I would highly recommend reading this.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the eARC

Rating: 3.75 rounding to 4 stars

The Bridge Back to You is a solid second chance romance about exes who are forced to work with one another after they discover that they've both inherited the restaurant where they fell in love and where they both learned how to cook Filipino food.

When I first requested this title from Berkley's Underrepresented Voices program, I did not realize it was going to have so much Filipino representation. The description on their website said something like "BIPOC/mixed Southeast Asian representation and disability representation," so I was unsure what kind of Southeast Asian representation I would find. As someone who is half-Filipina, it was a pleasant surprise to find out that this is a very Filipino book.

Both of the main characters, Olivia and Carmello are mixed, and they connect with their Filipino identity through food and cooking. This is something that I think many mixed people do when they don't speak the language and don't have access to visiting the "motherland." I think we (as mixed people) often connect to our culture through the foods that we eat, so this book really stuck out to me in that regard because it is something that I myself have experienced. So as far as representation goes, I would say it was done well. In terms of the food, I was a bit thrown off by mentions of cooking steak in a Filipino restaurant and it not being bistec, or the fact that their baker makes pumpkin pie and other seemingly western foods, but I think that because this is a Filipino-American story, there will be American foods mentioned because.

The reason why I'm rating this title a 3.75 is because the build up to the ending felt underwhelming. Olivia, is this jet-setting, private chef who at 20 years old left Providence, RI to follow her dreams and in the process, she broke Carmello's heart. We don't find out what she did and how she broke up with him in their youth till the 90% mark of the book and I just feel like the big reveal wasn't that crazy as I thought it was going to be given how Carmello treated her in the beginning of the book and how everyone that she left behind treated her. Everyone treated her as a selfish, flighty, indecisive, and impulsive person and then you find out what actually happened, and it just didn't stick with me.

Regardless, I do think it is a worthwhile read given how well it represents mixed identites and those with chronic and mental illness. however, I feel like the ending was wrapped a little too quickly. Honestly. I just wish that there was more time for the characters to unpack their past breakup before having their HEA.

Thank you Europa Editions for the ARC

I'm not sure how to rate a book like Hunger. It's one of those rare pieces of literature that pushes the boundaries of empathy; making you feel both disgusted by the actions of the characters, but also heartbroken for all that they have to endure.

Hunger is a novel told from dual POVs about two lovers who've known each other since childhood, and the ups and downs in their relationship, and how the world and the people in their lives impacted them.

Dam is a young woman grappling with the death of her lover, Gu. In order to memorialize him and to be with him forever, she decides to cannibalize him. To her, this is the only way his memory lives on. Gu, is a young man who was born into debt. His reality is stark and one he was unfortunately, unable to run away from.

This is an incredibly impactful novella. It made me feel sick to my stomach, torn apart by the tragedy Dam and Gu suffered, and relieved for it to all be over.

There are parts of me that wish the author had continued writing past Dam's consumption of Gu, but I guess we aren't supposed to know how the world chose to consume her after.

If you are interested in dark, psychological/philosophical thrillers, this is a disgustingly strange translated work worth reading.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the eARC

"In Films, when the main character loses someone they love, the plot fast-forwards several years to when they are less mopey. They are chipper and clean and, most importantly, not in bed. It makes for a better viewing experience because there's nothing more insufferable than watching someone cry all day."

Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead is a novel about a woman who loses her baby moments after giving birth, and her journey in navigating this tragic loss. Through this journey, she comes in conflict with herself, her partner, her family, and even her best friend, and is forced to confront the hardship of moving forward after a big loss.

This book was everything I wanted and more from a novel about grief. Oftentimes in media, grief is something that is glazed over; it's something that happens for a moment and then all of a sudden the person experiencing the grief has some sort of epiphany that shakes them and makes them want to live. This novel is different. It is darkly humorous and gritty. It shows the shadows of grief and how terrifying of a place it is to reside. It's not pretty and it's not something that one just moves on from 6 months later. It is ongoing and sometimes everlasting.

There are moments when this book feels uncomfortable to read because Cleo can sometimes be absolutely insufferable, but then you realize that's the point. Grief is insufferable. Loss is insufferable. So the person impacted by this all-consuming pain, should be given the grace to wallow and to feel. It's easy to tell someone that they need to "start living again," that they need to "find happiness." It is much harder to sit with the discomfort and actually talk about the pain and feel the grief with someone who's experiencing it.

Everyone will experience loss at some point in their life, so this is a book that anyone can relate to. You don't have to lose a child to understand the pain of losing someone important in your life.

If you are someone who needs to feel seen in your grief, then I highly recommend this book because it is a book that takes great care in understanding the struggle in pulling yourself out of the deepest, darkest, depths of despair; it takes great care in understanding the struggle of knowing that life moves on with or without you.

Thank you Edelweiss and Harper Perennial for the eARC

I am a simple woman who loves regency era romance and Fast & Furious, so when I saw "Fast & Fastidious" available for request on Edelweiss, I knew I had to read it. And I was not disappointed! This book has the tension and romance of a regency slow burn, and the thrilling action of a Fast & Furious movie.

What I most appreciate from this novel was the care in writing the main character, Lucy Elliot. She is characterized as a woman with many quirks who thinks differently from those in good society; she is hyperfixated on coaches and racing, and she has a knack for engineering. I want to say she is neurodivergent (most likely Autistic). I like how her character, despite not being attuned to neurotypical ways of engagement, is never ostracized by society. She is often seen as blunt or awkward, but people throughout the novel consistently reassures her of her worth and her value, which is refreshing to see.

I'm glad that there is a mystery to be solved and that the idea of family was heavily focused on. If you are a fan of the Fast & Furious franchise, you know that it is "all about the family," and family comes in all shapes and forms, and isn't just about blood.

This is a ridiculously fun, extremely heartwarming, and excitingly fast-paced novel. I hope it receives a ton of praises because it definitely lifted my spirits.

Thank you @NetGalley, Gabi Burton for opening up applications to read the ARC, and Bloomsbury for selecting me to be a reader

I hate when a good story ends! Gabi Burton how dare you make me fall in love with Remira and her pursuit for power? How dare you write such a gripping narrative filled with rage and ambition. I’m flummoxed! How am I supposed to wait for the next book? I now have a MiraXKaidren sized hole in my heart and it is all your fault.

All jokes aside, this was an incredible first installment of a fantasy series. It’s been a while since I’ve truly immersed myself in a YA series. This one was so filled with action and deceit. It constantly had me on the edge of my seat.

The twist in the final quarter of the book really took me by surprise. And I look forward to how it’s utilized in the next book.

I can’t wait to grab a copy. Unfortunately, the NetGalley version I read was formatted poorly on Kindle, so it was a bit difficult to read at times, but I understand that it happens with advanced copies, so I’m not mad about it.

Thank you to Ecco Books for sending an ARC

Happy International Women's Day! It's intersting how I ended up finishing this book today given that it is a story that centers around women and the societal standards placed on them.

If I'm being honest, I did not read Butter, so I went into this book blind. I kind of like that though because I hate when I subconsciously compare an author's work to their other existing work.

Hooked is a psychological literary novel that focuses on the point of views of two women who feel incapable of having female friendships. The character who is first introduced is Eriko Shimura, a beautiful office worker with an intense need to be perfect, who enjoys spending her spare time reading a blog called "Dairy of Hallie B, the World's Worst Wife." The second main character is Shōko Maruo, an unemployed, apathetic blogger who feels stuck in life and is resigned to this fate of being invisible. Somehow, these two meetb in a twist of fate and the colliding of their worlds becomes the point of conflict throughout the story.

Although this book is marketed as a thriller, I see it more as a character study of two women with unchecked mental illness, who are unable to fit within the restraints of a rigid society. Eriko seems to have OCD and she tends to act on her compulsions like pulling her hair out, counting numbers, repeating words or phrases, etc., while Shōko seems to have a kind of depression that leaves her in a freeze state. It's interesting to see how both of these characters interact and mirror one another. They both are incredibly complex, and that's what makes them great subjects for a novel. They both do and say hurtful things, but you can't help but empathize with them because in some ways, the environment they live in has created the people that they are.

If you are going into this book thinking it's an easy thriller, then you will be sorely disappointed. I think this book requires a level of understanding of Japanese culture and how it is very rigid when it comes to conformity, but it also requires a level of empathy for women and the struggles they experience in navigating a society that pits women against one another, while simultaneously shaming them for being participants in this societal game.

I don't want to give spoilers, but the ending is quite open-ended, so the characters' endings are really up to your interpretation.

Overall, I think this a novel that will stick with me because it not only illuminates the struggle women face, but it also critiques the society that forces them into the positions that they are in. If you do not like complex, morally-grey female characters, then this will be a difficult read.