Ivy's Reviews

This beautiful collection of essays covers a wide array of topics, from feminism to infertility to aging parents. Pine writes in a way that resonates in your soul and is completely devoid of bullshit. I was honored by her honesty and found her words a salve on my soul for all the nonsense I’ve gone through the last couple years. - Ivy

Claire North is as fascinating a subject as her novels. She has three different noms de plume. All of her novels are strange and wonderful, so I can’t wait to get my hands on this one. High-stakes games where the consequences are real? Heck yes! This was originally published as three novellas and it’ll be exciting to see it in its final form. - Ivy

Everyone knows the gruesome legacy of Jack the Ripper. We know five women were murdered, some even know their names, but few know anything about them beyond their end. Rubenhold shows us their beginnings with compassion, putting human faces on inhuman crimes. It was a perfect read for my macabre sensibilities and taught me lots of new information about these ugly crimes. - Ivy

When Vanessa Williams won Miss America, it opened a door in protagonist Vanessa Martin’s heart. Until then, she didn’t believe a girl like her—a dark-skinned girl—could win a beauty contest. Suddenly, Vanessa is competing in a school pageant and her Miss America dreams feel that much closer. Raw and full of heart, this book will have you rooting for Vanessa to go all the way to the crown. - Ivy

Through the years, Neil Gaiman has written on so many subjects, from books to politics to music. This book is worth the price of admission if only for his perspective on genre writing. Collecting these writings together provides a masterclass in how to write non-fiction: widely and often. - Ivy

Fisher was an actress, geek icon, and a professional screw-up who held nothing back from her audience. She called herself the product of “Hollywood incest” and never failed to find the humor in life. My nerdy little heart reveled in every moment. The secrets are as juicy as expected. More importantly, it’s full of the wit and self-deprecation we expected from our foul-mouthed princess. - Ivy

For four hundred years to be Irish in Ireland was a crime. Its people, stubborn to a fault, did not take to fetters gently. Thomas Francis Meagher ached for a free Ireland though he spent most of his life in exile. Just in time for the Easter Rising centennial, Egan writes about Meagher with a fervor to match the man’s need for freedom. Meagher’s almost unbelievable life lit a fire in me. - Ivy

Refugee stories are massively important right now. This graphic memoir explores connecting the past to the present and the long, intergenerational shadow it can throw. The Buis left the fallout of the Vietnam war, but never imagined the lasting impact such trauma would have on their life in America. Drawn in an intensely personal style, I couldn’t help but be pulled into their story. - Ivy

Bri wants nothing more than to be a rapper, but finds herself in the spotlight after a violent confrontation with her school’s security guards. In the aftermath, she finds herself and her actions misinterpreted at every turn. But Bri must figure out who she actually is before she can finally get her “come up.” I found this amazing follow-up to The Hate U Give endlessly compelling. - Ivy

This "queer King Arthur in space" doesn’t disappoint. For the first time in 41 cycles of Arthurs, Merlin finds his Arthur is a girl, Ari. An evil corporation called Amazon—sorry, Mercer—walled off her homeworld and Ari alone escaped. A decade later, she accidentally crashes on Earth and discovers a mysterious sword stuck in a tree, kickstarting the biggest Arthur quest yet. I loved this fresh, engaging update to the Arthur legend and its beautiful blend of science fiction and fantasy. - Ivy