Review: The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken

For nearly a year, Ukraine has been troubled. On the 24th of February 2022, Russia invaded the country with as goal to annexate it. Since that day, both countries have been at war. Violence and war unfortunately is not strange to Ukraine. The history of Russia and the countries previously being part of the Sovjet Union knows a lot of oppression and violence. When I heard of the novel The Memory Keeper of Kyiv, I knew I wanted to read it to obtain more knowledge about the history of Ukraine.

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Review: Huntress (Ash #0.5) by Malinda Lo

A few years ago, I introduced myself to Malinda Lo’s work. I’ve read Last Night at the Telegraph Club, a LGBTQIA+ historical fiction set in San Francisco during the Red Scare in the 1950s. I really enjoyed this read, so when the Dutch translation of Huntress was announced, I was really excited. It’s a fantasy based on Chinese folklore and mythology, with LGBTQIA+ characters as well. Did it meet my high expectations?

Review: It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover

As many of you may know, Colleen Hoover is one of my autobuy and autoread authors. This was already the case before she got so incredibly popular on Booktok. I don’t have TikTok myself so I don’t know what people say about her books on there, but just a few of her books get all the attention while others don’t get any. One of these books is It Ends With Us. I’ve read this book years ago, before TikTok even existed. At the time, I thought it was a powerful novel which didn’t need a sequel. Guess what? There came a sequel, because of the hype on Booktok. I was yet sceptical, yet eager to read it. Because, a Colleen Hoover book never disappointed me before. Well, It Starts With Us did.

Review: The Awakening (Zodiac Academy #1) by Caroline Peckham and Suzanne valenti

They are all over social media, the books in the Zodiac Academy series. I was able to postpone it for a very long time, but at the end of 2022 I caved in and got myself the first book: The Awakening. It ended up being the first book I’ve started in 2023 and now it’s time to entertain you with my thoughts.

Review: Cursed by Marissa Meyer

Hello and welcome to my first book review of 2023! In fact, this review is long overdue since it’s of a book I finished back in December 2022. Anyway, it’s a review of one of my autobuy Authors Marissa Meyer, so better late than never is the motto. Just a little warning beforehand: since Cursed is the second and final book in the Gilded duology, there are Gilded spoilers in this post. Haven’t you read said book yet? Then scroll to the bottom where I highlight the important points of my review.

Review: Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I believe it was 2018 when I caved in and read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This book already knew an immense popularity, so I was a little hesitant at first. However, I jumped on the hype train as soon as I got sucked into the book and it has been one of my favorite books ever since. In the same universe, Jenkins Reid wrote Daisy Jones & The Six (great book as well but I had to get used to the way of storytelling in this one) and Malibu Rising (honestly the book I like the least). It was in the latter one we first read about the existence of Carrie Soto. Now, she has her own novel. It took me a while to actually pick it up, but I’m so glad I finally did.

Review: As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

Each year, there is a YA event in Utrecht, as part of a bigger festival. The past 2 years, due to well-known reasons, the event has been held in a different way. This year, it was back to normal and people could actually get in the audience again. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it this year. One of the present authors was Zoulfa Katouh. Her debut novel As Long As The lemon Trees grow immediately got my attention. This novel tells the story of the civvil war in Syria, a war we’ve seen on television daily just a few short years ago. These images say a lot, but ot everything. Thankfully, books can help us out here and stories of this civil war get told and published slowly now.

*TRIGGER WARNING: This book contains many triggers such as PTSD, grief, death, losing loved ones and graphic descriptions of battle injuries, amputations et cetera. Please consider whether to continue reading this review. If so, please take care.*

Review: The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

Last year, The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Arrmas was one of the many hypes on Booktok. Although I haled the book almost immediately, I just didn’t pick it up. Untill now. Was it worth the hype or yet another Booktok disappointment for me?

Review: The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

A few years ago, The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes got published. This book immediately got lots and lots of hype and praise. Unfortunately, it wasn’r really my cup of tea. However, I was still curious of the further developments in the game, so I’ve read The Hawthorne Legacy. This series was supposed to contain two books, but a third one was announced. Although I disliked The Hawthorne Legacy even more than The Inheritance Games, I still couldn’t resist and read The Final Gambit. It’s FOMO I guess? Anyway, I was curious how this all would end.

*beware for spoilers of the first books off this series

Review: Fairy Tale by Stephen King

In 2020, I’ve finally read my first Stephen King book. This was The Institute and I honetstly enjoyed it. My first impression of this famous author’s work was good. Fast forward one year and I read Later, which unfortunately disappointed me somewhat. Salem’s Lot however was one I enjoyed untill the epilogue which was way too long. Now, King’s new book got released, Fairy Tale, which intrigued me from the moment I laid eyes on it. Was this book what I expected it to be?