I was supposed to upload this yesterday but I lost the post after I fumbled my phone. So here’s take 2.
Straight By Day by Jason Collins. Started on the 10th, finished on the 10th. Kindle.
I like Jason Collins. I follow him on social media. He seems like a good guy. I usually am fond of his books. But this book didn’t do anything for me.
First, the plot is a cliche. Closeted action star, Patrick, meets LGBT social worker, Braden. I have seen this played out plot before. Jason Collins seems to not even try with this book. There’s no character development and glaring WTF moments that fly against the rare character development there is.
The thing I hate most about Jason Collins books is the pace where the characters go from hookup to happily ever after. I’m a sucker for a happy ending but that doesn’t mean I find it believable when these characters go from smoking hot wham bam sex to sure, I’ll move to the country with you and have your gay babies within a week. Super frustrating.
Also super frustrating. The timeline of this book. Patrick is about to audition for a life changing role. It’s all he talks about. In chapter 10 it says
“My heart skipped a beat as I read the message and learned that my audition for Steel was all set for the next day.” Then, in chapter 13 it’s “the movie I’m auditioning for soon.” In chapter 16 it’s “There was still the one major movie role that I wanted to land, and the auditions were scheduled in just a few days.” Jesus fucking Christ, get your timeline straight. And that goes for everything. Braden tells his co-worker that he’s dating someone in the closet and he is reamed out for it. A few chapters later, this same character acts surprised when he’s told Braden is dating. WTF!
And the whole “I’m worried about my career and being outed” goes out the window when Patrick goes down on Braden while on a hike after he’s told and can hear people are coming. Unfuckingbelievable!
And, I’m a social work student so it really pissed me off when Braden was so self involved and narcissistic enough to want to name the scholarship he wanted to give homeless LGBT youth for himself. Really. Fucking fame whore. Oh, btw, you cannot plan and execute a major fundraiser for an LGBT homeless center in a week and you really can’t have your closeted action star play host and major fundraiser without anyone batting an eye. Fuck!
Yeah, was going to give it 2 stars but writing this review made me realize how irritating and unconvincing this book is so I’m dropping it down to one star.
⭐
The Women In The Window by A.J. Finn. Started on the 4th, put aside for the Micheal Wolff, restarted on the 10th and finished on the 11th. Kindle.
This book is one that I would lovingly call a slow boil. It takes forever for the plot to kick into gear.
We’re introduced to Dr. Anna Fox. She’s recently been separated from her husband and he has custody of their daughter. There’s reference to an incident that occurred but there’s no clear indication of what that incident is. All we know that it has left Anna agoraphobic. She stays at home playing chess, taking French lessons, watching old movies.
This book is extremely slow going until around Chapter 37, then it’s like a fucking avalanche. Anna sees something out of her bedroom window and the suspense kicks in until the jaw dropping end.
Favorite quote: I was fighting for my life. So I must not want to die. And if I don’t want to die, I’ve got to start living.
This would get 5 stars if the action had picked up sooner but anytime I think about not finishing a book it gets dropped a star.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Why I Hate Men: The A to Z Misadventures Of Gay Dating by Joe Phillips. Started and finished on the 11th.
I was thinking this would be more of a self help book but it’s actually a grown up ABC book. Very clever and enjoyable. 5 stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo. Started on the 11th and finished on the 12th. Kindle.
This is the first of two DC Comic related books I have read this week. Both inspired me to watch Justice League.
As the title suggests, this is a book about Wonder Woman. It’s not the Diana Prince from World War II or the Diana Prince of the modern era. This is Diana Prince in her teen years.
The book starts off with Diana trying to prove herself. All of the Amazons living on Themyscira have been battle born. Diana hasn’t, instead formed out of the clay of Themyscira by Hippolyta.
In this quest to prove herself, Diana witnesses a ship wreck off the coast of Themyscira. No stranger is supposed to set foot on Themyscira but Diana cannot help to rescue the lone survivor. This girl, Alia, is a descendant of Helen of Troy and a Warbringer.
This book was fun. It kept me on my toes because I wasn’t sure if the mission Diana and Alia set on would be completed. I’m always a fan of a sidekick and Wonder Woman: Warbringer has two. I did figure out what the main idea would be so I have to drop a star. Anytime there’s something named “Project Second Born”, I’m going to question the first born.
Favorite passages:
We cannot spend our lives in hiding, wondering what we might accomplish if given the chance. We have to take that chance ourselves.
Because the whole world loves to tell us what we can’t do, that we aren’t good enough. The people in your own house should be on your side. It’s the people who never learn the word impossible who make history, because they’re the ones who keep trying.
When you ride, your mount learns the feel of the hands that hold the reins; it gets used to responding to those commands. There’s danger in letting someone else take the reins for too long.
We can’t help the way we’re born. We can’t help what we are, only what life we choose to make for ourselves.
When had she stopped being a child? The first time a guy had whistled at her out of a car window when she was walking to school? The moment she started wondering how she looked when she ran, what jiggled or bounced, instead of the pace she was setting? The first time she’d kept from raising her hand because she didn’t want to seem too smart or too eager?
Fun, adventurous and a new appreciation for Wonder Woman. Four stars.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu. Started and finished on the 12th. Kindle.
I’m a huge Batman fan and this book takes place in a Batman era seldom seen. Gotham shows Bruce Wayne as a pre-teen. The movies mostly focus on Batman at the height of his run. Justice League shows an older Batman, on the job for twenty years. But this book shows Bruce Wayne at 18 and about to take over the family business and long before he decides to become Batman.
In this book, Bruce Wayne makes an impulsive decision and is assigned to Arkham Asylum for community service. There he meets a young lady named Madeleine. She is a Nightwalker, part of a gang terrorizing Gotham’s wealthiest.
I love how the book foreshadows Bruce Wayne eventually becoming Batman. Here are a few examples.
Well, at least you can say you’ve crossed paths with the most dangerous criminals in the city,” Dianne added as she bit into her burger. “I mean, when will you get to do that again?
To Bruce, the tunnel reminded him of the narrow passageways in the cave near his family’s estate, and the bats that sometimes poured out.
The display showcased an opaque black helmet and a black armored body suit made of latticed fabric. It gleamed under the light as if entirely made of metal, but its texture made it clear that it was as foldable and bendable as silk, armor that seemed capable of molding to fit its wearer.
As much as I love Batman I can only give this book three stars. It is very predictable. I wrote in my notes from chapter 9 who I thought was involved and I was right.
⭐⭐⭐
Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke. Started on the 12th, finished on the 13th. Kindle.
This is the debut book from Lianne Oelke. From the description, I thought it would be sort of like Big Brother set in high school. It is a little bit Big Brother because Jane moves into the House of Orange that functions as a community college version of Big Brother. But it’s also a little bit of Lifetime’s UnReal and a whole lot of MTV’s Daria.
What was more surprising to me was the heartfelt content of the book. Jane keeps referencing something that happened in her past. She refers to her life as before and after. The incident was something that blew me away and hit home.
Favorite passages:
I just hope she never experiences firsthand what it’s like to fall apart and not have the strength or energy to put yourself back together.
The world would always have the liars and traitors and thieves, but there were still those who were good at heart.
I think there are several things wrong with you. But there is so much more that is right.
I loved the style this book was written in. The journal entries were a smart choice. The book was a quick read but it stays with me. It’s rare that I give 5 stars but this book deserves it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
