Karena's Reviews

Right off the bat, I felt a connection with Paul, who keeps a journal to track her books. I’m fantastically obsessed with doing this (I have a database! she admits nerdily). Each chapter is centered around a book that has made a difference in her life at one time or another. What I particularly enjoyed is that you don’t have to have read each mentioned book to relate. Perfect for any bibliophile. - Karena

Roxane Gay has put something together here that is almost indescribable. The very essence of rape culture has permeated our society so subtly that we often don’t think of rape other than in the most physical sense of the word. But in this collection of essays, writers of all backgrounds talk about how their lives have been affected by rape culture. It is a masterful collection, unflinching and relatable. - Karena

I am always on the lookout for fantasy novels that aren’t based in medieval Europe, so when I discovered this story with its Chinese influence, I was immediately intrigued. It is a vividly told narrative about a young girl who, despite being an orphan without connections, lands a place in a military academy and vows to make a name for herself. In the process of going through the difficulties that follow, she learns more about herself and the country she calls home. - Karena

I think I raved to everyone who would listen about how much I loved this book. Lockwood is hilarious, yet her words are thoughtful and heartfelt as she describes her ‘walking warning label’ of a mother and her priest father who has a habit of dropping his collar (and pants) at the door. Families aren’t perfect and Lockwood’s is no different. - Karena

I’m pretty sure I read this with my jaw clenched. Wariner tells a difficult story about being raised in a polygamist colony by her mother along with several siblings. Wariner’s stepfather is particularly hard to read. It is a survival tale that you makes you rage at times and sob in others, but in the end will make you all the more better for reading it. - Karena

I love a good hot mess and this was one in the best way possible. It feels so realistic you might think it’s actually a biography. I know people like Belden’s main character Allie (but I’m not naming names). The adulting that she has to do to cover for her trash fire of a boyfriend is astounding and exhausting. This would make an excellent movie. - Karena

I have really liked the romances written by this duo of writers (who write under the single pseudonym Christina Lauren), so when I saw they were trying contemporary fiction I was willing to try it out. I usually side-eye books with constant flashbacks, but this was done so effortlessly (and charmingly) I actually looked forward to the flashbacks. - Karena

This book reminds me of Jackie Collins back in the day, only in Singapore. Kwan describes the paradox of a culture where people with more money than they know what to do with save the tiniest amount of leftovers but then drop millions on a diamond necklace. Once you get passed their designer clothes, the characters are just as naked as the rest of us. - Karena

Right away I knew I was going to love this book. This is one instance where you should judge the book by its cover because of how lovely it is. Naledi is a capable, intelligent woman who really had zero time for Thasibo's privileged nonsense. Cole layers her sexy smooches with real world issues, smart dialogue, and just a fun plot. Life hack: Read this after you watch Black Panther, because then you’ll picture T’Challa as Thasibo and it’ll be that much better. - Karena

Reminiscent of the French Revolution with a thread of magic (sorry not sorry), Torn is a fantastic tale of a woman who can stitch charms into her creations and is caught in the middle of her brother and his dreams for revolution and her own connections to the nobles who buy her services. I went in expecting a light fantasy and ended up in something that was complex and inspired conversation about how romance, politics, friendship, and loyalty can make us question who we are. - Karena