Wednesday, July 31, 2019

DNF&Y [19]

DNF&Y is used to explain why I gave up on certain books, and what about them just didn't work for me. What I disliked about a book might be something you love, so it helps to share your thoughts even when they're negative! If you would like additional information, please click on the DNF&Y tab at the top. If you want to join, you can link up at the bottom!

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
by Erika L. Sanchez
Narrated by Kyla Garcia

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Perfect Mexican daughters do not go away to college. And they do not move out of their parents’ house after high school graduation. Perfect Mexican daughters never abandon their family.

But Julia is not your perfect Mexican daughter. That was Olga’s role.

Then a tragic accident on the busiest street in Chicago leaves Olga dead and Julia left behind to reassemble the shattered pieces of her family. And no one seems to acknowledge that Julia is broken, too. Instead, her mother seems to channel her grief into pointing out every possible way Julia has failed.

But it’s not long before Julia discovers that Olga might not have been as perfect as everyone thought. With the help of her best friend Lorena, and her first kiss, first love, first everything boyfriend Connor, Julia is determined to find out. Was Olga really what she seemed? Or was there more to her sister’s story? And either way, how can Julia even attempt to live up to a seemingly impossible ideal?


DNF at 19%

I decided to try I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter when it was one of the few audiobooks available at my library (my library is small, and I have to request most of what I want). I didn't know much about the book going into it, and that's my fault, but I could not connect with the main character. She's so negative about everything, and while that might be a realistic portrayal of some teenagers, it wasn't for me. She comments on a friend's makeup, and how a dress looks bad on that same friend's mom, and it just felt unnecessary. Additionally, the story starts off really slow, and I tend to prefer books with a quicker pace.


Ever Alice by H.J. Ramsay 
Expected publication: August 1st 2019
Synopsis (via Goodreads): Alice’s stories of Wonderland did more than raise a few eyebrows—it landed her in an asylum. Now at 15 years of age, she’s willing to do anything to leave, which includes agreeing to an experimental procedure. When Alice decides at the last minute not to go through with it, she escapes with the White Rabbit to Wonderland and trades one mad house for another: the court of the Queen of Hearts. Only this time, she is under orders to take out the Queen. When love, scandal, and intrigue begin to muddle her mission, Alice finds herself on the wrong side of the chopping block.

DNF at 5%

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

Ever Alice made my head hurt. The language was confusing, and the content didn't always make sense. I know that Wonderland is a magical place, and not everything is supposed to be logical, but readers still need some backstory and context to understand what's going on. Rosalind (I believe that's the queen's name) is bananas, and I think she's supposed to be, but her perspective only made things more difficult to follow. The phrasing and wording were weird, which also made the story a challenge to read. “'Only the most unimportant news,' he said with his tongue sticking out of his mouth." After awhile I stopped reading, because I didn't want to force myself to stick with something I couldn't get into.


Finale (Caraval, #3) by Stephanie Garber
Narrated by Rebecca Soler
Synopsis (via Goodreads): A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.

It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.

With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time—only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.

Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end…


DNF at 7%

I tried and failed to get through this one. I was hesitant to start it at all, because I didn't love the first two. However, I was curious about the Fates, Jacks, and their mother, which is why I decided to give it a go. Tella is still obnoxious and always playing games. Why?? Who makes the rules?? She and Legend are dancing around each other, and it's so frustrating. I prefer characters that are more direct and less childish. Also, why is Scarlett still wearing that dress? She never takes it off, and I know it changes to reflect her emotions, but doesn't she bathe?? Magical dress or no, a person still needs to get naked and soapy every once in awhile. 

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18 comments:

  1. "Also, why is Scarlett still wearing that dress? She never takes it off, and I know it changes to reflect her emotions, but doesn't she bathe?? Magical dress or no, a person still needs to get naked and soapy every once in awhile." lol

    This kind of thing bugs the hell out of me. It happens a lot in UF too.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. Right?? I get that the dress is magical and can do things, but she never takes it off! How does she have sex? Bathe? Sometimes people need to be naked!

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  2. I don't have any books that I haven't finished recently but it's happened. sorry to hear you didn't like these.

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    1. It happens to us all! No worries. I do this post every month so I can explain why I didn't like something, instead of just pretending like it never existed. ;)

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  3. The Caraval series I've just never taken the plunge on, even though a few times I thought about it. I don't know. Sorry to hear it didn't work. And lol about the dress. Characters do such unrealistic things at time!

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    1. I love the narrator, Rebecca Soler, which is why I tried the series on audio initially. However, the characters are MADDENING. I don't like being overly frustrated while I read, haha.

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  4. I liked the Caraval series, but if it didn't work for you, it didn't work for you. I do hope that the MC in Mexican Daughter got a little more positive. It's YA, so I am assuming she has some sort of coming of age. Rough run of books for you there.

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    1. A lot of people absolutely love the Caraval series! I really wanted to get into it, and read the second book because it was from a different perspective, but it wasn't a good fit for me. I expected Legend and the Fates to act...older? I don't know.

      I have no idea if she starts being more positive or not, but she was starting to obsess over her sister's secrets when I stopped reading. She has a tenuous relationship with her parents, and everything felt tinged with despair. I'm sure it'll be a great book for others! :)

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  5. Oh, that's too bad about Ever Alice! I was looking forward to that one, but if I'm confused right from the start, that's not a good sign. I'm on the fence about even trying Caraval because I really wasn't crazy about the other two books.

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    1. Ever Alice was very confusing! Alice is in a really weird situation, that was just a tad too unbelievable for me. I don't mind suspending some belief for books, but the author has to make me believe in whatever story they're trying to tell. This one just didn't work for me.

      I was on the fence about Finale for awhile, but was curious about certain aspects. I've decided to just read a recap of the book instead of listening to the whole audiobook. I'll get the highlights without the drama.

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  6. It's too bad about I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. This has been on my radar because I teach at a school with a large Hispanic population, but I haven't had a chance to give it a try yet. Sorry about Finale. I've been interested in jumping into the series because I've heard great things about it, but I just haven't felt motivated to give Caraval a try. Maybe some day.

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    1. I Am Not You Perfect Mexican Daughter felt authentic, but it just wasn't a good fit for me! If it sounds like something you'd enjoy, you should try it just in case. :) I wanted to know more about Jacks and the Fates, which is why I started Finale, but I just cannot read it through Tella and Scarlett's perspectives. They are endlessly annoying.

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  7. Finale is not high on my list, I'm really just here to learn more about Jacks. This series definitely isn't what I expected it to be.

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    1. If you manage to read it... will you email/DM me what happens? Haha! I want to know what happens to everyone without having to actually read it. Tella and Scarlett are frustrating characters, and I was getting too annoyed with their perspectives.

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  8. Quote: "Magical dress or no, a person still needs to get naked and soapy every once in awhile."
    ๐Ÿ˜‚

    My friend Carrie is obsessed with all things Alice, but this one didn't really work for her either. Maybe you'll find answers to some of your questions in her review though, if you are interested: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43694151-ever-alice

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    1. Well, it's true. Girl needs to take the dress off and have a nice soak in a tub. Thanks for the link! I'll be sure to check it out. When a book is too confusing to follow, or the wording just doesn't make sense, I have a hard time sticking with it.

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  9. I feel you with having a hard time getting into a sequel that you just aren't thrilled to start to begin with. I have such a hard time with sequels in general- probably why I have put off Legendary, even though I DID really enjoy Caraval! I feel like with Not your Perfect Mexican Daughter that's more mean than negative, even? Like why pick apart someone else's appearance? That would bug me too! And Alice sounds like a bit of a hot mess hahah. Sorry these didn't work for you!

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    1. I tried Legendary since it was a different perspective, but it was still meh for me. As for the negativity in IAMNYPMD was there, but she was also mentally mean. She criticized how much makeup her friend wore, and how she preferred a different hair color. Her friend's mom wore dresses that were too tight and unflattering... it just went on and on. She didn't like that her sister would rub her dad's feet after a long day at work. I felt like she complained almost nonstop about every aspect of her life.

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“Stuff and nonsense. Nonsense and stuff and much of a muchness and nonsense all over again. We are all mad here, don't you know?”
― Marissa Meyer, Heartless