baileysbooks

[baileysbooks]

Six Star Reads

Ever read a book that just goes beyond your wildest imagination? That totally alters the way you feel and think after you close that final page? Me too. Here are my all time top reads, or Six Star Reads!

Alone with You in the Ether by Olivie Blake

So before I tucked into this book, Olivie Blake was already heading towards being my favourite author, or at least one of, but this book cemented her in that position and just blew me away. This book is a romance, but its also a story about time and space and math and bees and humanity and human connection and love and family and loss and mental health and so many things, all while just... being a book about two people meeting and falling in love in Chicago. This book marries incredible prose, beautiful storytelling, and Olivie Blake's masterful character work into something so incredibly special. I read it, re-read it, listened to it, and its the first book I've ever annotated, as someone who does not enjoy writing in my books. I have not been able to stop thinking about it since I read it and probably never will.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

If vibes is your thing, you and I are going to enjoy a lot of the same books I think. This book entranced me. There is plot and there is storytelling, but this book is so wrapped in atmosphere and energy and this beautifully crafted magic that I could not put it down. I read it a few years ago and I think it about it at least once a week, and its the only book where, even though I already own a copy, I have to physically stop myself from buying a copy whenever I see it in a store. I could barely summarize the plot to you but it wouldn't matter if I did. This book just has to be experienced.

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

Yet another author who is easily one of my favourites of all time. Her prose is extraordinary, especially in this book and in her other book Siren Queen. A Gatsby retelling, told from the point of view of Jordan Baker, Daisy Buchanan's best friend, this book brings magic, and even some decidedly dark magic, into the story, along with exploration of race and gender and sexuality in the 20's, all under the backdrop of the sticky, intoxicating beauty of a sweaty New York City summer, which Nghi Vo manages to capture with an extraordinary deftness. The point of view shift also makes Daisy into a fully formed character, someone with agency and a rich life, instead of leaving her as the object of Gatsby's desire. This book is rich and lush and gorgeous and I recommend it to everyone.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

This gothic tale was a decided shift from other gothic works I had read, in that it is so deeply focused on a friendship between two teenage girls and how a connection that deep and that intoxicating can shape a person forever. The way the story is told is delicious, with stunning prose that slowly but surely weaves the story into being before your eyes. I listened to this book and it quickly became an all time favourite. It's hard to explain what this book is about without spoiling, but go into it blind and just let it take you.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

This is the duology I credit with getting me back into reading. An expertly written cast of characters, a fast paced plot, a deftly handled heist, stunning world building, and just enough romance and intrigue and twists to keep your on your toes until the last second. I know this book has been talked about a million times, and not much can be said that hasn't been said before, but it really is as good as everyone says. If you haven't yet, give it a try!

The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter

If you like action and fight scenes, and fantasy, this book is an absolute MUST. Based in African mythology, a revenge story that, honestly? Puts John Wick to shame. The action in this book was INCREDIBLE and once the story starts it does. not. let. up. This book moves at a blistering pace and takes turns and twists I did not see coming that make the stakes feel so much more real. I read this book in two days, bought the sequel immediately, and am now waiting for the perfect moment to crack it open and lose myself in the world again. Definitely dark, much darker and heavier than the other books on this list, but its another one I have not stopped thinking about.

Let me know what you think of these, and if you have any six star reads!

[baileysbooks]

The Outfit (Dir. Graham Moore)

Synopsis

A cutter from London moved to Chicago years ago and opened a shop where he outfits the only customers who can afford his fine clothing; the mob. One freezing December night his shop becomes the stage for mysteries to surface, blood to be spilt, and secrets to come to light.

Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - A carefully plotted, intricately designed gangster thriller that feels like a play. The twists are stunningly executed, the acting is remarkable, and the slow drip of information allows for a stunning conclusion. I went in with very little knowledge, which I would argue is the best way to approach this film.

Review

I'll be honest, I only heard about this film because I follow one of the actors closely, but even aside from him I was intrigued by the trailer and it did not disappoint. A flawlessly executed, tightly wound thriller that never shows its cards to early or to loudly. Each twist lands with the perfect mix of "oh shit!" and "oh of course!", as all well executed mysteries should do. The cast is spectacular, the writing is quick and funny and beautiful, the set and costuming is like a time capsule of 1950's gangster Chicago, and I was on the edge of my seat through the whole thing. If you're a fan of a mystery, of gangster flicks, of complex characters, or just of really, really good writing, check out The Outfit!

Set solely in the tailor shop over the course of one night, this gangster thriller slowly unfolds with deft precision, leaving you with answers to questions you hadn't even thought to ask. Leonard, an English cutter who fled after an accident in his shop in London, has opened a tailor shop in Chicago and has found esteem and acclaim outfitting members of a mob family in the city. He is well known and respected by the men in the gang and he has skills with a needle and thread, making his shop the perfect location to seek refuge after a late night shootout leaves the son of the head of the mob with a bullet in his stomach.

The slow drip of information, the quiet, well crafted dialogue, and the charismatic actors all meld together beautifully as you slowly learn that there is a leak in the organization, putting everyone in the shop on high alert, and at great risk. Richie, the son of the head of the gang, is seeking to prove that he is as much of a man and a gangster as his father, but is hitting an obstacle in the shape of Francis. Francis sees Richie's father as a father of his own, and is looking to make a name for himself in the organization. Leonard is just looking for a quiet life, making fine suits and avoiding the plague that is blue jeans (to be said with as much disdain as you can muster), and has a fatherly fondness for Mable, the young woman with big dreams of seeing the world, who currently works as his receptionist. This cast of four leading characters interplay with each other in unique ways, some expected and some less so, and the climax of the movie left my jaw on the floor and my mind blown.

I won't give much more away, because this movie is best served fresh and without any hint of a spoiler, but I cannot recommend it enough. Crafted like a fine suit, with a perfectly fitted cast and expertly woven plot, this film will impress at every turn. Swift and impactful, it reads like a play, feeling isolated and intentional in all of its movements. Go into this movie with your eyes open and your attention on high and I can promise you will find yourself impressed and, of course, highly entertained.

[baileysbooks]

Coming up!

Hey BBs! I've got a few things in the works for this blog coming up soon that I wanted to let you all know about! Can't wait to share my thoughts with you!

Reviews to Come:

There are some books and shows I've finished lately that I'm excited to write out my thoughts on, and I hope you'll enjoy reading them!

Jade City - Fonda Lee

Jade War - Fonda Lee

Bridgerton Season 2 (Netflix)

The Endgame (NBC)

Reading Right Now:

To get out of a reading slump, I've gotten in the habit, over the last few months, of starting a new book when I want to read but I don't necessarily want to read the same thing I've been reading! Because of that, I'm currently reading... quite a few books! Over the upcoming weeks/months, I'll be hopefully finishing up a few of these books and dropping some reviews!

Vicious - V.E. Schwab

Mexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - Stuart Turton

Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon

Velvet is the Night - Silvia Moreno-Garcia

An Unkindness of Ghosts - Rivers Solomon

Foundryside - Robert Jackson Bennett

Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir

Our Violent Ends - Chloe Ghong

The Starless Sea - Erin Morgenstern

Jade Legacy - Fonda Lee

Up Next:

I've got a few books I've purchased recently that I intend to dig into, either once I've finished my current reads, or maybe before! So here are some more books to look forward to from me in the coming months!

The Gilded Wolves - Roshani Chokshi

A Marvellous Light - Freya Marske

We Have Always Been Here - Lena Nguyen

Phoenix Extravagant - Yoon Ha Lee

Gideon the Ninth - Tamsyn Muir

Ninth House - Leigh Bardugo

The Unbroken - C.L. Clark

The Jasmine Throne - Tasha Suri

Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller

Dune - Frank Herbert

The Eye of the World - Robert Jordan

So there it is! Things to look forward to from me in the next few months! If you have read any of these books, I'd love to hear your thoughts on them! I'd also love to know if anyone has any recommendations or suggestions on what to read or watch next!

xx - B

[baileysbooks]

Bridgerton - Season 1, Episodes 5-8

Synopsis

After a scandalous encounter in the gardens, Daphne finds herself on the brink of ruin. She has certainly come to love the Duke, but does he feel the same? Will her marriage be a happy one, especially after the revelation that the Duke will not be able to provide her children? Simon is in quite the predicament indeed, for her certainly loves Miss Daphne Bridgerton, but marriage to her violates the oath he made on his father's death bed. Will he be able to keep her new wife happy and keep his secret?

Rating

⭐️.5 - Almost the moment they are married, the chemistry between Simon and Daphne fizzles to near nothing. Their sexual romp through his estate and their cute early marriage moments feel hollow, especially as the episodes progress and we see their marriage for what it truly is. Daphne becomes unbearable, Simon is a punching bag for a story line where he is the victim but treated like the villain, and the gossamer sheen of the first half of the season proves to be not more than cobwebs.

Review

How can it take less than an episode for such a shiny, lighthearted romance to become to utterly unbearable? Just ask the back half of s1 of Bridgerton. The character choices are at certain points questionable and at others completely incomprehensible, the flirtatious chemistry between the leads evaporates once their married, and even the other dynamics and characters that shined in the first half of the season have lost their sparkle.

Lets get the ugliest bit out of the way. The choice to create a 'race blind' world for this show has been met with a lot of mixed views, and there are fair points to be made on both sides of the argument. However, just because the world in the show is some sort of post racial utopia does not remove the real world implications of having a white female lead rape her black male partner. And let us be clear, that is what happened here. Daphne rapes Simon. She is having sex with him, he point blank withdraws his consent, and she forces him to continue having sex with her. Her reasoning (proving he lied about being able to have kids, which, in the interest of semantics, is not actually what he ever said to her) is irrelevant, and does not make the scene acceptable or appropriate in any way.

In a show that managed to maintain a pretty positive through line of consent for their intimate moments, especially with Daphne's utter lack of experience and knowledge on intimacy and sex, to have included the scene in episode six at all was... certainly a choice. But to then play the scene, and the arc that follows, as if Daphne is the victim of the plot line? It was an irresponsible and utterly incomprehensible choice. Simon is given not one moment of sympathy from this story line, is not permitted to express any anger or acknowledge the trauma of what happened to him, and it is very clear that Daphne is intended to be viewed as the wronged party in this situation.

Simon's anger at her is not for raping him or violating him, but because she tried to force him to give her a child. And, to be clear, that is also something he should be angry about. An arc where a man rapes his wife and tries to forcibly get her pregnant would never make it into a show that is meant to be a lighthearted story about love, romance, and family, but that is exactly what happens here. But Simon's anger is still played as being misplaced and unearned, throughout the entire back half of the season. We are not meant to sympathize with him, feel for him, or to side with him. We are meant to see this as a moment for growth for him.

The point of the arc, it seems, is to prove to Simon that his hatred of his father and his insistence of not having children is preventing Simon from living a full life. We watch Simon listen to Daphne's sobs as she discovers she is not pregnant, and we are meant to see that he is grieving for his wife and the things he is refusing to give her. We are meant to feel sympathy for her as she grieves her lack of pregnancy that she hoped to achieve by raping her husband, who has very clearly expressed that he does not intend to have children. We are meant to hope that Simon will realise the grief and loss he is causing his wife and somehow come to his senses, which ends up being exactly what happens. Simon realises that he is in the wrong and that he loves his wife too much to deny her a happy life together. This arc is never truly resolved, never addressed in any meaningful way, and ends with Simon agreeing to have children with her because he loves her, and that is that.

Its an unsatisfying character arc, an infuriating relationship arc, and it makes it impossible for me to root for Daphne or them as a couple in anyway. I came out the back end of the season wishing Simon had went off and found a mistress to fall in love with a left Daphne to wither in his giant country estate all alone. I cannot even rewatch anything past episode 4, and I don't ever plan too. It is not often I am so disappointed with the direction of a show. I'm generally a person who will roll with most narrative choices because I try to enjoy the story that is being told rather than wishing for something else, I find I end up being much happier with a story if I approach it from that perspective, but this is the exception.

In regards to other parts of the season, even things I liked felt a little flat. The 'married bliss' of episode five just felt dull. A sex montage doesn't appeal to me, especially when it has very little emotional weight, and that was absolutely the case here. I am not someone who minds a sex scene, in fact, I think they can really add to a show, but I like them to have some degree of emotional significance, and a 10 minute romp through a country estate with no real significance other than 'they're married now so they do be fuckin'' just... wasn't it for me.

I actually did enjoy Benedict's arc with Genevieve quite a bit. I liked that he was taking time to do things for himself and it was fun! Their chemistry was fun to watch and I liked the couple of scenes where they brought Eloise in and he had to hide or Genevieve had to put back on her fake accent. Cute, funny, and a good time. However, it did get overshadowed by Eloise's Lady Whistledown hunt, which had fallen a bit for me by that point. I didn't enjoy the fact that they pulled the Queen into her hunt and I thought it was just a bit predictable and uninteresting.

Penelope's arc with Marina was also rather infuriating. Parts of it I understood, protecting her friend and the jealousy of a crush choosing someone else, but it also made Pen difficult to root for. She fully understood the implications of what she was doing, and Marina had been nothing but a friend to her. I understand her not wanting Colin to marry Marina, but a private conversation with him would have landed much better, and offered both Marina and Colin more agency and choice within their own arcs. Instead, she exposes Marina in a way that she can never recover from and dooms someone she called a friend to a marriage with a man she barely knows. It's a frustrating arc, and not one I enjoyed at all. It's also questionable that the 'victims' of this arc are also Colin and Penelope, rather than the actual victim, Marina.

Anthony's arc in the back end of the season was somehow both my favourite part of the back half of the season, and still disappointing. I appreciated his story line with Siena and how she forced him to face the reality of his life, but it was so continuously back and forth that it became exhausting. They 'broke up' and rekindled their romance too many times even for me, and I was absolutely someone who was rooting for them. I think the way they close out dynamic at the end of the season, where she basically forces him to see sense and realise that his duty to his family and her need for a stable, safe existence absolutely cannot coexist, works beautifully for both of their characters and ends up being the most satisfying ending for any of the arcs, but it did get tiresome for a little while.

All in all, the shine of the first half of the season is exposed as nothing more than an oil slick by the end. Arcs that were interesting, exciting, romantic, and fun became dull, lifeless, boring, and, for the main arc, actively harmful and toxic. The main female lead becomes someone I cannot root for in the slightest, the male lead portrayed as the villain of an arc he is actually the victim of, and everything else is overshadowed by a poorly done romance plot that has an unsatisfying conclusion to say the least. If this show was going to continue to focus on Simon and Daphne as a couple in future seasons, I would not have tuned in for season 2, but thankfully, they positioned Anthony to take centre stage as the leading man in that final scene, saving them for at least one more season.

[baileysbooks]

Bridgerton - Season 1, Episodes 1-4

Synopsis

Daphne Bridgerton is the eldest daughter, fourth born in a family of eight children (named alphabetically, as it was orderly), and this season she will finally enter the Marriage Mart. She is named the Diamond of the Season, but her well meaning but ultimately overprotective brother promptly takes her from the top of the Ton to the bottom of the barrel. Whatever is a girl to do? Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, has arrived in London after a long absence to get his father's affairs in order. He has no mind to seek a wife, and only shows his face at the events of the Ton to appease his godmother, Lady Danbury. How will the Rakish Duke manage to survive his time in London without being forced to suffer the peckish mothers of London's most eligible ladies?

Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - The first half of the season is an absolute delight. The music, the sets, the costumes, the chemistry between the cast; every moment is a sparkling feast of television that I can (and have) watched over and over again! Simon and Daphne sparkle and their flirtatious chemistry smolders in a perfectly pastel world.

Review

What to even say about the first four episodes of Season 1 of Bridgerton. The lush scenes are full of beautiful actors acting their absolute pants off in gorgeous costumes set to classical covers of pop songs. It's a dreamy dish of a show that I cannot get enough of. Plus, insanely beautiful Regé-Jean Page in well fitted Regency wear, on a horse, being the best pretend suitor a darling Diamond in search of a husband could ask for? I can (and have) rewatched the first four episodes over and over again, just to soak in all the gorgeousness.

The show starts out so strongly. We have Daphne, a perfect debutante with her eye on the prize: finding a husband on her very first season out in London society. She gets even gets the Queen's blessing, naming her the Diamond of the season! But, thanks to her meddlesome eldest brother, who, as we late discover, is absolutely riddled with uncertainty and insecurity about his role in the family, she finds herself sorely lacking in suitors before the first episode has even ended. Anthony promises her hand to Nigel Berbrooke, a very slimy man who needs a lesson or 5 in consent, and in her moment of need, who would swoop in to to save her?

Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, though he finds her very much not in need of any saving. A damsel? Sure! In distress? Absolutely! But she can handle it! The solution is proposed and the entree into society as a coupled pair, complete with one of many extremely charged dance numbers, is a rousing success, and one of the most beautiful sequences in the entire first season. Simon and Daphne sparkle on screen together, and their flirtatious chemistry is absolutely sublime!

As the first half of the season progresses, their friendship blossoms beautifully! They get on swimmingly and have many scenes where they end up in fits of giggles or accidentally gazing into each others eyes longingly. It's a damn delight! My only real complaint about their courting dynamic is that we get very little actual emotional development. They are clearly very good friends, and have spectacular flirtatious chemistry, but at no point does Simon or Daphne ever truly open up to each other and talk about anything true. The scene in the art gallery is the closest they come, and even then, Simon never reveals anything about himself, all serious things Daphne knows about him come from Anthony. That aside, the arc of Simon and Daphne through to episode 4 is a treat.

Anthony manages to be my favourite part of this show, which I know was an unpopular opinion. Even when he's promising his sister to Nigel, he means well. Yes, he doesn't listen to her or her mother, and yes, he's a god damn fool, but this is the moment where he truly realises the weight of the responsibility his father's death has placed on his shoulders. Every man he sees, he knows their faults. A gambler, a drunk, a capital R Rake, all he can imagine is that man destroying his sister's life, and he can't have that, so he chooses someone with good name and title and just hopes it doesn't get fucked up. It does, it absolutely does, but he means well. I also adored his relationship with Sienna. I think it's the closest thing he'll allow himself to feel to true romantic love. She's someone who sees him, and understands him, and he feels safe with her. Loved their relationship, loved the way it comes to a head for him later in the season, and I loved him in general.

The side plots are also all very engaging, which is a testament to the character work done in these first few episodes. Benedict's foray into the art and orgy scene of London's elite is charged and engaging, made all the better by Luke Thompson's ability to capture my heart in every single moment he is on screen. Eloise's battle with her position in society and the expectations placed on her feels earned and honest, as she watches her sister go through the song and dance of a courtship season and clearly fears for her own fate the year to follow. Colin is a less utilized character, but still managed to capture my heart in quiet moments, like coming home late with his slightly drunk mother, all smiles and laughs until he realises his idiot brothers are up to absolutely no good. Even the two youngest Bridgertons, Hyacinth and Gregory, make their mark, making the full family scenes feel lived in and honest. Lady Danbury is an exceptional wise matron figure: the god mother to our beloved Duke, she has a sharp tongue and even sharper wit and helps to guide Simon in whatever way she can while being positively meddlesome at any opportunity. The show makes even its smallest characters feel full and well-rounded, which makes every scene a treat to watch. When you care even about Daphne's ladies-maid, it's easy to stay excited about every scene!

With such a strong start, this show grabbed me and ensure I would remain along for the ride. What else was I going to do when Regé-Jean Page was dancing in beautiful regency clothing to upbeat pop music and fake dating our heroine? I found myself rooting for a heroine who, I'll admit, is a tad dull, and hoping for a happy ending for them. Their isn't much in terms of conflict after episode 2, other than the Duke's persistent refusal to marry, but even the courtship with Prince Fredrich manages to be light and fun and add a layer of tension between the main pairing that elevates their dynamic. The Bridgerton Family is warm and well developed, and I would happily spend 8 seasons watching each of the children find love and pester their siblings endlessly.

[baileysbooks]

The Viscount Who Loved Me - Julie Quinn

Synopsis

Anthony Bridgerton, Viscount and Eldest of 8 siblings, has finally decided it is time to put an end to his Rakish ways and find himself a wife. He has a long list of qualifications that make up the perfect woman, but the most important? He absolutely cannot be in love with her. Kate Sheffield and her sister Edwina are newcomers to the London Season, and are about to make a big splash. Edwina is the undeniable Diamond of the Season, and the aforementioned Viscount has set his sights on her, but her elder sister isn't sure they are properly suited. Will Anthony be able to convince Kate that his marriage to Edwina is acceptable, or will he find himself falling for someone else entirely?

Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️ - A fun dynamic and a great premise that really takes a hit due to some choices made throughout the book. I can see why it's hugely popular, and it was a fun, quick read, but my excitement about the show has only grown after hearing that, while the energy of the dynamic between Kate and Anthony remains, the overall adaptation is loose at best.

Review

I decided to give the Bridgerton Novels a read after Season 1 of the Netflix adaptation left me longing for more steamy regency romance, but I skipped right over The Duke and I and went right for Anthony's book. He was my favourite Bridgerton in the show, and I did enjoy his book, though it wasn't my favourite in the series (hello Hyacinth!). Kate and Anthony have delicious chemistry and I loved the premise of a man whose childhood trauma has convinced him that love will only cause him more pain falling for the most infuriating woman in his life. Overall, a nice premise, but not a stellar read.

Anthony was easily my favourite Bridgerton in the show. I loved the story of a man who was trying to do what was best for his family, but fucking it all up because, in the end, he really had no idea what he was doing. As we discover in the book, he had to be a father to his siblings, a pseudo husband to his mother, the head of his household, and a Viscount, all at far too young an age. After his fathers passing, Anthony was thrust into unbelievable responsibility, and, as men of the time surely did, tried his best to handle it without ever breathing a word of his fears, insecurities, or uncertainties to anyone. Every mistake and misstep was so clearly seeded in deep insecurity about how he can play this role he's been forced to take on far too early, and, while reading his story, it just made me like him more. The fact that it all comes to a head when he meets Kate and begins to fall for her, despite his best efforts, is a really well done arc for him.

Kate was someone I both liked very much and found very frustrating. I adored her. She is headstrong, witty, and goes toe to toe with Anthony throughout the book, which is no small feat. Her deep love and protectiveness of her sister is something I really identified with, and her willingness to give up her own happiness to allow her sister to find her own was a beautifully selfless character moment. Overall, I thought the exploration of her trauma and her inner life was a little lacking, but I really enjoyed Kate as a character.

However, I've found, especially in recent years, that female protagonists who constantly talk about how they are ugly or plain with no real reasoning behind it aside from a lack of male attention, really frustrate me. Anthony notices her beauty immediately, and though it is made clear that Edwina is the shining example of 'beauty', the focus on Kate's lack of self esteem just exhausted me. She's whip smart, has a quick wit, and generally seems to be an all around well liked person by most people she meets, so the endless focus on her looks was tiring. I mean, did she really need to believe that Anthony was thinking of Edwina when they were consummating their marriage? Especially considering that they had already kissed more than once and he had been very vocal about wanting to sleep with her? I think it cheapened Kate as a character, and if this is entirely forgotten in the show it will be better for it.

Anthony and Kate's dynamic was also a treat. I loved that he was so stunned by her, because it's very clear this is a man who had never had a woman look him straight in the eye and tell him not just no, but hell no. A man who is used to getting his way and a woman who unapologetically blocks him, who is also beautiful and infuriating, who he wants to kiss all the while wanting to scream in annoyance? Excellent, show stopping, perfection. The slow burn of them coming to terms with their feelings was all in all, pretty well done, and I loved their dynamic.

However, this book is not without its faults. My biggest concern with the book was the antiquated aggression that we see from Anthony. He embarrasses Kate, yells at her, kisses her when it was definitely not appropriate and consent was... questionable... and even refers to having sex with her on their wedding night as his "right" as a husband. It left a sour taste in my mouth, and definitely impacted my enjoyment of the novel. I think it may be a product of the genre, but I was very much not a fan. It also felt weird that Kate, who is a very outspoken character, would simper and shrink in these moments, instead of putting him in his place. It allowed for the story to entirely demean Kate as a character and that really frustrated me.

I also found the smut to be lacking. All in all, it was very vanilla, which isn't a bad thing but it wasn't... all that spicy? (Francesca's book is where the spice is at, if anyone is interested!) And a lot of the 'spicy' moments felt really clunky and awkward. The kiss in the study, after he embarrassed her and yelled at her was uncomfortable on so many levels. The Bee Scene™ was... weird? Like I liked the intention behind the scene, but maybe a bee sting to the delicate skin on the inside of her wrist that leads to the same action from Anthony... much sexier in my opinion. Anthony gasping out "it's never been so good" after... pretty mediocre smut, was... odd. Julie Quinn is a pretty solid writer of romance, but erotic writing is not her forte.

All in all, I think the bones of the story are wonderful. The dynamic is both typical and also unique, the way they bounce off of each other is lovely, the focus on family for both leads is a refreshing motivation in a romance, and I really loved how the tension between them was able to continue even after they were married. But the faults make this book one that I'll likely never reread, and wasn't all that impressive. It is in my top 3 of the series, but the series as a whole doesn't rank very high on my list.

That being said, I am very interested in the Netflix adaptation, especially now that I've heard that the show has taken the book to be more of an inspiration rather than creating a direct adaptation. I think the story of Anthony Bridgerton and Kate SHARMA (!!!) will only benefit from a more updated approach to a romance story, and the delicious chemistry between Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey. I'll absolutely be tuning in on Friday to witness their banter first hand!

[baileysbooks]

Station 19 05.11 - The Little Things You Do Together

Synopsis

Vic is having her abortion and Theo is committed to being with her throughout the process. The unexpectedly difficult experience gives them a chance to figure out where they stand. Travis answers a Crisis One call with a man whose wife left him and is forced to face some uncomfortable truths about his own relationships. While Carina and Maya try to find compromise on a sperm donor, Andy and Jack decide to help each other work on making better choices in love.

Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - One of the best episodes of Station 19 to date. A quiet moment was taken in this episode to allow characters to express their emotions, feel their feelings, and move their emotional arcs forwards. Also a poignant approach to an abortion story line and a lovely continuation of Diane's impact on this show. As Jack says "See, therapy works!"

Review

This is not a show I typically watch week to week; rather, I'll often let 3 or 4 episodes pile up and watch them all at once. This episode, however, I knew I was going to watch pretty quickly (at least for me). I was very invested in Vic's abortion story line and I was very interested to see where this arc was going to take her, and Theo, and I was not disappointed. This episode was so heartfelt, quiet, and intimate. In a show where episodes sometimes move at a blazing pace and character beats can be left by the wayside for a few episodes, it's nice to be reminded that Station 19 really shines when it gives its characters the opportunity to sit down and just say what needs to be said.

Vic and Theo's story in this episode was easily one of my favorite stories in all of Station 19. Abortion story lines can be tricky, and I find they are always better when they allow a character to feel what feels natural to them. Vic has a line about how she never wanted the baby, but her body is grieving anyway, and that is such a perfectly in character response for Vic. She isn't questioning her choice, she isn't uncertain about what she's doing, but she feels and she feels deeply, and on a subconscious level, she cared about what she was about to do much more than she realized. Her snark and her tears and her desperate attempts to shove Theo away while really wanting him to be with her was wonderfully acted and beautifully portrayed, and a beautiful approach to how Vic would act in this situation. I loved watching her slowly accept that she hadn't shoved Theo away and that he really did want to be there, and I LOVED how the episode truly centered Vic and her feelings and her experience within this specific arc.

Theo also truly shined this episode. He remained sweet, respectful, and supportive while still demanding the space to experience this event that also impacted him, and it was a nice shift forward for him. Throughout Vic's grief over Miller, Theo has felt abandoned and pushed aside, and for him to stand up to her in this way, this gentle but firm way, was really something. He knows Vic, he knows how she is going to react to this, and he sits quietly, refuses to let her give him an out, and is with her every second of the process. I think this gave Theo a ton of character growth, helped to solidify his and Vic's relationship, and also just made me love him so. much. more. I mean... guys... he read so many books... he was so prepared... he sang so badly for her... I'm melting. A really beautiful depiction of a couple having an abortion and the way it brings out feelings and how it will impact them both, a lovely depiction of a man and his hands on approach to being there for her, and a lovely step forward for them as a couple. 10/10, honestly.

Andy and Jack was a fun dynamic to get back into! I've kind of been of the mind that they've cycled Andy through every man she could be with, so they're going to give her some time alone (hopefully!!!) and then either introduce a brand new love interest (open to it) or bring somebody back from her past (as long as it's not Sullivan, why not?). And let me just say, if it happens to be Jack... I wont be angry at it. They have such fun chemistry, the actors play off of each other beautifully, and I really love watching them together. No matter what direction this dynamic goes, I really hope we see them become close again, and continue to see them have solo scenes together. But... lets see how long they can keep up this whole Abstinence Buddies story line.

Warren's small arc was also really great this episode. I love Ben Warren, I think he's such a unique character, and I love that he had to kind of find his place in this episode. His belief that because he had checked off x number of therapy sessions, that was it, while still refusing to truly see the issues he was facing, was really well done. Interested to see how things progress now that he's been faced with a realization about what his actions meant for his team and seems to want to work on his issues. Also.. let that family keep Pru, I'm begging you.

Travis's arc has been frustrating for me. He was hooking up with Emmett, but he didn't want to be with him. Then they were a couple, and it was great, but now, he's falling out of love with him? I love Travis, him and Vic are my favorite two characters on the show, but I just wish this arc was... better? It feels repetitive, especially because it's with someone he had broken up with and gotten back together with in the past, and the show finds ways to constantly compare him to Michael as a way to remind us that this love isn't the same, and, so far, doesn't seem to live up. I'm hoping for Travis to truly decide what he wants for himself and then take it. Poor Emmett though!

Maya and Carina was also a nice touch this episode. Another emotional beat that was given a little space to breath, which I think was needed. This arc in a dramatic, faster episode would have landed very differently. Even with a much smaller arc, I loved that Maya was clearly upset about something and nobody else seemed to actually grasp what it was she was upset about. They kept trying to insinuate she wanted to carry or be the egg donor, even when she had repeatedly said that wasn't it, and I love that Maya always stands her ground. Even if she can't quiet find a way to express what she wants at a given moment, she always stands her ground, and it's part of what makes her such an interesting character. I love the compromise at the end, and I'm interested to see who they chose!! And, of course, they're a couple that I feel like would normally bug me but instead they manage to be effortless and so full of charm and such lightness, I can't help but love them.

In all honesty, I have no idea what happened with Sullivan... I don't care about him or Beckett, so this pair up, while an interesting step for Sullivan to try to help another addict, in his own sobriety journey... I'm just not interested.

All in all, easily one of my top 5 episodes of this show. I was thoroughly impressed with the portrayal of a solidification of a love story through an abortion story line. It was a pretty unique take on an abortion arc, but it was so beautifully done, and it gave so much respect to the truth about abortion, from the mental to the physical to the emotional, while still feeling honest and true to the characters. Theo x Vic 5ever you guys. Interested to see where the arcs go from here, for everyone, and I thoroughly loved this quiet, intimate episode that showed love in so many forms, in so many stages, and made no apologies about showing characters in their rawest forms.

[baileysbooks]

Finna by Nino Cipri

Synopsis

A science fiction novella set in a Big Box Store that is very much absolutely not not a fictional Ikea. Ava and her very-recently-ex partner Jules are employees at the store and begrudgingly on shift together when an old grandmother wanders through a wormhole into a parallel dimension. Corporate policy states that two employees are to go in after the wandering customer, so Ava and Jules are on the case!

Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - A fun, weird concept, an attempt at impactful social commentary, but, in the end, it was lacking.

Review

I'll admit, when I was recommended this book by the TBR recommendation service, I was simultaneously skeptical and intrigued. The plot sounded just off the wall weird enough to distract me from the fact that its a novella, which are not something I typically read. In the end, I'm facing a similar duality of emotion: intrigued, but unfulfilled. This book was fast paced, the concept was funky and cool as hell, and its a testament to Nino Cipri's writing that I wanted this book to be at least twice as long as it was.

The concept is beautifully weird and hilarious. Imagine, you're an employee at an Ikea and you find out that not only is there a wormhole opened up in the labyrinth of your store, but this happens frequently enough that Corporate has a plan of action to handle this type of occurrence. Ava and Jules are both appropriately infuriated, bewildered, intrigued, and annoyed by the entire situation. It's the story of two young, low level employees at a massive, international corporation who are faced with the most glaring example of corporations not giving a damn about their employees imaginable. But hey, they're getting a gift card!

In terms of the world building, I felt as though there was a lot to be desired. There were moments where the description of the Måshkal and the worlds within it was exquisite. Lush, crazy, at sometimes horrifying parallel worlds opened up before the eyes of our heroes as we followed them on their quest to find the lost grandmother, but that's about where it stopped. It may be because its a novella, and so the length (a blisteringly paced 134 pages) didn't really lend much room to 'world build', but I found myself wishing we could spend a little bit more time in each place. The main monstrous antagonist was a bit vaguely described and I found it hard to pin down what it was I was supposed to be imagining and there was a point where I honestly was just confused as to where Ava and Jules even were, much less how to envision it. Overall, a very cool concept that probably would have benefited from a lengthier approach, which, as you'll notice, seems to be a trend with my thoughts on this book.

Ava, our main character, was a somewhat clunky character. She is almost harder to pin down than Jules, even though we're following the story through Ava's point of view. She is unhappy with her job and feeling angry and deeply sad about her recent breakup with Jules, but she's just sort of... existing. She doesn't seem to have very strong feelings about much outside of Jules and how she feels about them, and, honestly? Girl, you're traveling through a wormhole into parallel universes, can't you at least try to muster some interest?

Jules is nobinary, and I was really excited for a book with a nonbinary protagonist! I had specifically asked for queer characters and queer authors in my TBR profile, and this was specifically suggested based on that! And honestly? Jules was so cool!!! The way they're described, they are definitely someone I would have fallen in love with after seeing them for like 5 minutes in a grocery store. Jules also hates their job, but Jules has dreams. They want to travel, they want to see the world, and Ava describes them as feeling trapped in their job and their town, which is something I really related too. They were so interested and amazed with everything they were experiencing, even when the circumstances of how they got their weren't ideal. Jules was inquisitive and down to explore and see this incredible thing they had been shoved into, and I really loved that. I think the book from their point of view would have been much more interesting. Generally, I just really enjoyed Jules. And their ending? Perfection!

However, their dynamic was extremely frustrating for me. Up until pretty much the last quarter of the book, they were extremely antagonistic towards each other. They nitpicked at everything, they argued over nothing, everything they said to each other was taken as the worst possible interpretation of what they had said. You can tell they cared deeply for each other, and they definitely nailed the exes vibe, but it was exhausting. Without the build-up of seeing them as a couple before the story began, the antagonistic vibes was really annoying (for me), and it made the final scene between them feel super rushed. Again, maybe the novella format just isn't for me, but I could have used an extra 50 pages to flesh them out a little more and give them room to truly reconcile, or at least talk, instead of just argue.

As with all good sci-fi, this novella also presents us with a social commentary. Finna uses satire to address capitalism and the way it exploits workers. In the beginning and the end of the book, it was handled masterfully. The satirical approach to the way a Big Box Store would handle and inter-dimensional incident was fucking hilarious! Guys... the company has an instructional video on how to deal with the wormholes. It's so good. It's a not-so-subtle attack on the system that lands so, so well! But the moment they step into the parallel dimension the author seemed overcome with the need to beat us over the head with it.

The characters say "capitalism, right?" at least three times, which wouldn't be a lot, except its over the course of like, ~70 pages total? It felt like once we got into the 'alternate universe', the author didn't know how to maintain the social commentary without spelling it out for us, when, in actuality, the fact that Jules and Ava were even on this extremely dangerous mission in the first place, sent by their manager from their minimum wage job at a multi-billion dollar corporation to rescue an old lady from a wormhole, was more then enough to maintain it. After a while, the heavy handedness really broke the impact of the satire and made it feel clunky and overdone. They handled it really well again at the end, but the middle made me feel like the author was trying to spoon feed me.

I wanted to love this book, and I can confidently say I ... liked it? Overall, it was a lot of me being really excited and then weirdly let down. Great social commentary, until I was beat over the head with it. A really interesting queer dynamic with a really cool nonbinary character, until the dynamic was just... annoying. Fantastic parallel worlds and horrifying monsters, except I wanted at least twice as much time with each thing.

I will say this book has done a few things for me. Firstly, I will definitely be picking up more novellas, especially when I'm in a slump. The quick read really helped me to actually finish a book when I haven't in a while. Additionally, I will definitely be picking up weird concept science fiction, because, while at times clunky and frustrating, this book was a ton of fun.

Definitely recommend to newcomers to Sci-Fi, because the sci-fi is definitely soft! Not an ounce of physics to be found! This is an adventure story, an action story, a story about love and loss, and an angry middle finger at the capitalist hellscape we all inhabit, with a touch of traveling through holes in time and space. If you're into novellas, into sci-fi, or both, I'd definitely suggest grabbing this fun, funky little journey into unknown worlds.

[baileysbooks]

Come Read (...and Watch) With Me!

Hi, and welcome to Bailey's Books, were I, Bailey, review books, movies, and TV shows! As a writer in both my professional life, as a lawyer, and in my spare time, through fanfic, writing is the thing I love most! Since I also love TV, books, and (to a lesser extent) movies, and talking about them at length, I figured I'd marry the two here, for Bailey's Books! Come hang out and enjoy my thoughts on... pretty much everything! I'll post reviews on things I'm watching or things I'm reading, and please feel free to recommend me things you enjoy as well!