I got this book through a blind date with a book promotion on Independent Bookstore Day. It hadn't been on my radar at all, but it sounded interesting, so I didn't wait to pick it up. It was enlightening to read about the experience of someone battling cancer, especially having had a family member with young breast cancer as well.

I struggled to read through certain parts of the pandemic era, and had I realized that would be such a focus, I don't think I would have picked it up. I have difficulty revisiting that time, so going back and forth between poems centered around life with cancer, the pandemic, and politics was too jarring for how short the book is.

I hope the author is doing well! Ultimately, this collection of poems offers emotional, firsthand insight into dealing with such an awful disease.

This volume picks up at the arrival in the Promised Land and through to the lineage of King David. The Old Testament is perfect for a manga, honestly.

I have so many conflicting feelings about this book… On one hand, I was invested in the story, wanting to know how everything would work out. On the other, I couldn't ignore the dynamics. The longer I've sat with the book, the less I like it despite how hooked I was.

Chris and Larissa meet at a concert, but that night, it was Chris' friend Mike that drove her home. Given this was shortly after his mother's passing, Chris wasn't his best self. It's not until an incapacitated Mike begs Chris to drive Larissa and her mother to the hospital for a scheduled surgery that he begins resenting not being the one Larissa chose.

Larissa is happy enough with Mike, although, as Mike is less and less available, Chris is the one she ends up spending more time with, even co-adopting a dog together. Mike doesn't seem bothered by this and shows up for her in other ways. At least, that's what she's led to believe.

This book was messy. Normally, I'm all here for that, but in this instance, I was left feeling bothered by so many things. If it wasn't bad enough that Chris is ultimately Larissa's love interest despite him being her boyfriend's best friend, Chris spends the majority of the book lying to Larissa about Mike to the point where the situation becomes dangerous. This didn't mix well with his obsession with keeping her safe and wanting to take care of her. On the surface, it's sweet, but it got to a point where he felt suffocating and not in line with how he handled the situation with Mike.

If this had been labeled as literary fiction rather than a romance, I would have eaten it up. I thoroughly enjoy reading about flawed characters and complicated dynamics. But presented as a romcom? I didn't want a happy ending. I wanted to see real consequences for the characters' actions. This is where my conflict comes in, because in that sense, I loved this book.

I do love Abby Jimenez' writing, so I will be picking up the next book in this series despite my trepidations on what's been revealed of the plot. I hope that somehow book three will make me feel better about this one.

After the death of her parents, Elodie moves country with her young son, Jude, to live with her new husband, Bren. Renovating his family home is Bren's passion project, wanting to make the perfect life for his pregnant wife and his stepson. But when Jude starts claiming that the renovations are hurting the house and the voices in the walls, Elodie becomes increasingly concerned. Bren is concerned, too, but for different reasons.

This was one of those books that had me completely losing track of time. It was so twisted and eerie that I just had to know how everything was going to play out. That said, I did have higher hopes for the ending. Given the genre, I suppose I was too optimistic, but it was still disappointing (and frustrating) just how much Elodie failed to grow as a character.

Atmospherically, this book excels. C.G. Drews strikes a perfect balance between horror and gothic elements, intertwined with a psychologically thrilling plot. Despite not loving the ending, I had so much fun reading this book.

How have I gone so long without this classic in my life? It's been a while since I've read something so poignant and deeply human. I had high expectations going into this, and those expectations were exceeded.

A young man (who remains unnamed) is assigned an office with Raif Efendi. He is fascinated by the shell of a man that is his co-worker, and eventually, the two men befriend each other. It's an unusual sort of friendship, and although the young man has worked with Raif and even met his family, Raif hasn't shared much about himself. Why does he sometimes disappear? How come he's so prone to illness? Why does he let everyone treat him so poorly and without appreciation?

Through Raif's diary, the young man learns about his life years before, while he was living in Berlin. Central to the diary is his infatuation with a painting in a gallery and its artist, Maria Pruder. Chance encounters bring the two together. Maria is just as captivating as her self-portrait. She's straightforward, confident, outspoken… everything Raif is not. The two forge a friendship, Raif willing to put his feelings for Maria aside if it means just having her in his life.

This is through and through a character-driven novel. Raif and Maria are both troubled in different ways, making their relationship fascinating to read about. Maria, in particular, is an enigma, given that we only get to know her through Raif's perception. I also enjoyed the beginning of this book, seeing how the narrator and Raif's friendship forms and deepens. The characters' shortcomings are written in a relatable way, not villainizing them, but not glorifying them either.

Although the book is under 200 pages, I took months to read it. I wanted to savor my time with it and appreciate every moment. Raif's character in particular struck a chord. He lives his life almost entirely inside his own head, isolated and unsure of how to function in the world. Sabahattin Ali captures his desolation so well. I felt immersed in his mind.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to start reading classics. It's short but impactful. It reads relatively modern, too.

Honestly, my words aren't even remotely conveying the experience I had while reading this book and I've given up trying. I think the best way to enjoy this story is to go into it knowing as little as possible so you can meet Raif along with the narrator.

"Go and find your friends, Robin..." This backstory!!!!! I haven't enjoyed a volume this much since the beginning.