Book Reviews for Q1 of 2021

During the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, I felt unmotivated to indulge in any of my hobbies, even though I had more time than ever before. However, once 2021 began, I felt less of a mental block and fell in love with reading again. Below are some short reviews of the 39 books I read in the first quarter of 2021. Some apps I use for free ebooks and audiobooks are Libby and Hoopla. Additionally, I love shopping for used books on Thrift Books, especially tattered Stephen King paperbacks.

1. The Secret History by: Donna Tartt

Category: Mystery/ Dark Academia Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This book was a wonderful way to start the year. We follow a group of eccentric Greek students and their classics professors. As it is the quintessential dark academia book, there is an expected murder on campus. This was an immediate favorite and I do not know how to review it without giving away any plot details. There is a large amount of Ancient Greek in the book, but nothing that cannot be deciphered with context clues or if you have a light understanding of Ancient Greek. The only fault I found in this book was towards the end when the group begins to dismantle, there are many pages where all we see is the characters drinking and smoking, with seemingly no resolution.

2. The Ravens by: Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige

Category: Young Adult, Fantasy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I’ll admit I only picked this book up because it was 50 percent off at Barnes & Noble and it has a beautiful cover. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This book follows a young witch entering a sorority of witches as a freshman in college. The writing was pretty simple but it is a YA novel. I think I would have loved this book as a teenager, but even as an adult, it was a fun book with some unique twists and adventures that the main character has to go on.

3. Hood Feminism: Notes From the Women That a Movement Forgot by: Mikki Kendall

Category: Nonfiction/ Feminism

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This book was one that I went into assuming it would be a five-star read, but I found that little new information was being presented. If you have never taken a feminism/ philosophy course and know nothing of feminism as it applies to women of color, then this is a wonderful book to read. The information presented was simple to understand and not purposely convoluted.

4. The Little Prince by: Antoine de Saint- Exupéry

Category: Children

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I recently re-read this book for a book club I am in. I remember reading this book in Spanish when I was a child, so it was nice to return to it as an adult. The general consensus from my book club discussion was that we were having a hard time reading this from the perspective of a child and to suspend disbelief. This is a children’s story that I think everyone should read, as it is very beautiful and whimsical.

5. The Picture of Dorian Gray by: Oscar Wilde

Category: Classic/ Horror

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I tend to avoid classics, as I believe that I will not enjoy them and feel no connection to the characters. But The Picture of Dorian Gray has removed my fear of classics. This was so beautifully written and so chilling. For most of the book, I felt no pity for Dorian, and I felt like he was getting what he deserved. Even though Dorian is such an unlikeable, self-centered character, nearing the end of the book, I did feel a bit bad for him. It is not a surprise Oscar Wilde did not write another novel. His first and only novel was perfect.

6. The Goldfinch by: Donna Tartt

Category: Contemporary Adult Fiction

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This book follows a young boy, Theo, after his mother is killed in a museum bombing, which he survives. The beautiful writing is a wonderful juxtaposition to the horrors Theo is facing after losing his mother. I felt so much anxiety throughout this whole book, hoping Theo pulls through. There are also many scenes in New York, which I always appreciate as I can picture exactly where it is taking place. This book almost felt like it was written for me as it was a combination of many of my favorite subjects: art history, antiques, New York, a Maltese puppy and a self-destructive, drug-abusing main character. It is only four stars because I couldn’t help but compare it to The Secret History, which I enjoyed more.

7. Station Eleven by: Emily St. John Mandel

Category: Science Fiction

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This book offers a glimpse of society after a health pandemic wipes out 90 percent of the population. I think it is pretty obvious why I chose to read this book. Chapters of the book switch between different characters and different timelines, before and after the virus spreads. It also has a satisfying ending where all the storylines interconnect and provide hope for the future as society attempts to rebuild.

8. The Outsider by: Stephen King

Category: Horror

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I could not put this book down and I think it is a perfect example that the “new” Stephen King is still amazing. A man is falsely accused of a crime he did not commit, and there is evidence of him being in two places at once. Something I also love that King has done since Carrie is looping in articles, police reports and police interviews instead of traditional prose to keep the story moving forward. I knocked down a star because the ending was slightly disappointing as it felt like something major that the entire story was building up to.

9. Something Wicked This Way Comes by: Ray Bradbury

Category: Horror

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I’m surprised by how scary this book was, considering it was published in 1962. This book follows two young boys when a cursed traveling circus comes to their town on Halloween. It has been a while since I’ve read this book but whenever I come across something that reminds me of this book, I still get chills. I also loved the main character’s relationship with his father. I think this is one that I will enjoy re-reading each year in October.

10. Educated by: Tara Westover

Category: Nonfiction/ Memoir

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This memoir is so painful and so uplifting. I disagree with the title of Educated as it is less about education and more about family abuse. The author discusses how she left her conservative Mormon household to study at Cambridge and Harvard, and the abuse she endured from her brother and father. I enjoy how she did not villainize her family members and even when she is at a much better place in life, she still feels regretful for leaving them. This memoir deserves all the awards it has won, and then some.

11. All I Know Now by: Carrie Hope Fletcher

Category: Nonfiction/ Memoir

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Review: This book is clearly intended for a younger audience, but putting myself in the mind frame of a teenager entering high school, I think I would’ve still found this to be dull. The author is giving tips to other young girls about how she overcame “obstacles.” However, many of the hardships she faced were trivial at best. For example, she recalls being made fun of once for having blonde hair and brown eyes. I feel like this book did not need to exist as the advice offered is pretty basic, like you should care more about your education than finding a boyfriend.

12. Heart-Shaped Box by: Joe Hill

Category: Horror

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This is the first Joe Hill novel I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed his short story collection, Stranger Weather. This book follows a former rock star who purchases a ghost online that is attached to an old suit. There are some twists and turns that I did not see coming. Like his father Stephen King, I think Joe Hill has problems writing female characters. Both women in this book have familial issues and turn to stripping to run away from their problems. I am still looking forward to reading more of Hill’s novels.

13. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by: J. K. Rowling

Category: Young Adult Fantasy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I only hurt myself by refusing to read the Harry Potter series as a teenager when it was gaining popularity. I’m happy I finally put aside the time to read it and it has quickly become a favorite. This first book was a perfect way to set up this fictional world and introduce the characters. While I’m typically not a fan of fantasy, I do love how this book is set in a school. The descriptive language is perfect and fully immersive. For example, here is an excerpt from when Harry first sees Hogwarts: The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

14. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by: J. K. Rowling

Category: Young Adult Fantasy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I enjoyed this book a bit less than the first one because it seemed to follow the same pacing and formula as the first. The final scene where Harry defeats Tom Riddle was fun to read but having Dumbledore’s Phoenix, Fawkes, cure his ailments almost felt too good to be true. This is often an issue I have with fantasy as the writers can come up with a new magical ability, like Phoenix tears being able to heal wounds, to get their characters out of a difficult situation.

15. The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by: Grady Hendrix

Category: Horror

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This book was so much fun to read and the audiobook was fully immersive as the actress has a southern accent. I’m not sure if people from the south would find this book offensive, as the women in this book seem to all be portrayed as bored housewives. The book follows a group of housewives in a book club when a new man moves into town who is acting suspiciously like the villains in the novels they are reading. This book was a fun mix between The Stepford Wives and Dracula.

16. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by: J. K. Rowling

Category: Young Adult Fantasy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: Of the 7 books in the series, this one was my least favorite. It again followed the same formula of Harry hating his summer at the Dursleys and there being a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. I think reading the first three books in the series consecutively is what made me annoyed by the formulaic writing. I think when I re-read this in the future, it could have a higher rating. I did enjoy the introduction of Harry’s godfather, Sirius Black.

17. Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter by: Simone de Beauvoir

Category: Nonfiction/ Memoir

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Review: I picked this book up because I’m a huge fan of De Beauvoir's philosophy and writing style, and my existentialism and phenomenology class further piqued my interest. However, this fell flat. I wanted to love this book but I just couldn’t wait to be done with it. It was interesting to learn about her childhood yet it all felt long-winded and unnecessarily drawn out. On the positive side, her writing style is beautiful and more so in French.

I think if you are not a fan of her philosophy, this memoir will be painfully dull. Even if you are interested in philosophy, there is no mention of it until page 234, in a 359-page book.

18. The Death of Mrs. Westaway by: Ruth Ware

Category: Thriller

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: The Death of Mrs. Westaway follows the main character Hal who receives a letter in the mail that her grandmother has died and she needs to visit her estate to learn what she was left in the will. Hal knows this is not her grandmother, but attends anyways because she could use the money. The middle of this book really dragged and was difficult to get through. However, there was a wonderful twist at the end. I’ve heard that Ruth Ware’s books can be repetitive, but this is the first one I’ve read so I did not see the twist at the end coming.

19. Elevation by: Stephen King

Category: Horror

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: Although many people found this book dull, I actually enjoyed it. It is not something that I would read and immediately think was written by Stephen King, but I enjoy it when a writer tries new things, especially late in their career. This book is about a man who is losing weight on the scale but looks the same physically. It was a short book that was a nice 4-hour read.

20. Jane Eyre by: Charlotte Bronte

Category: Classic/ Romance

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I typically dislike classics and romance, so I expected to go into this book disliking it, and I cannot be happier to be proven wrong. I loved Jane as the main character who was very level-headed even though she was in love. Jane is hilarious and intelligent, and although Edward could be an asshole at times, I still found his character to be endearing and I see why Jane fell for him.

21. Pet Sematary by: Stephen King

Category: Horror

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This quickly became a new favorite Stephen King novel. Aside from the traditional horror aspect that you expect from King, like dead cats coming back to life, this novel was such a beautiful exploration of grief and how far parents will go for their children. A couple and their children move into a new home with a pet cemetery behind their property. I feel like not much can be said without giving away the plot. If you have only seen the movies, they do not do this masterpiece any justice.

22. Pride and Prejudice by: Jane Austen

Category: Classic/ Romance

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This was another book this year that made me take back my statement that I hate reading romance novels. I could not put this book down and I was so interested to see how the romance would play out. Elizabeth is a brilliant main character, as is Mr. Darcy, albeit rude and insufferable sometimes. I eventually fell in love with him just the same. Darcy has a wonderful redemption arc in this book. I would’ve loved to read more about the other sisters.

23. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by: J. K. Rowling

Category: Young Adult Fantasy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: The fourth installation in the series finally broke from the formulaic structure of the first three books. Harry, Ron and Hermoine all grow as characters in their own right. This book was surprisingly dark for a young adult book as someone dies. I love how Harry faced Voldermort in this book and he is backed by his family members.

24. Persuasion by: Jane Austen

Category: Classic/ Romance

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I decided to read this book after I was wonderfully surprised by Pride and Prejudice. This book follows Anne, who breaks an engagement with Frederick because her friend influences her to do so, but they then meet 12 years later. Maybe because her love interest was a captain, and sea-based stories bore me to no end, this book fell flat for me.

25. It by: Stephen King

Category: Horror

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: For years I was frightened by what a tome this is to tackle. And I can only say that I wish I read it sooner. King is a master of coming-of-age stories, and It was unique among those I’ve read. Aside from chilling descriptions of Pennywise and the Losers Club battling It, it is a surprisingly relatable story. There are demons we all have to face when growing up, and it shapes who we are as adults. Like the Losers Club, we often forget the specifics of what happened until we are face-to-face with this demon later in life.

If you have never read any of King's work, this is a perfect one to start with. Although there are some slower parts, I found it difficult to put down.

And yes, the multiple descriptions of Beverly's 11-year-old body are disgusting, as was the child orgy.

26. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by: J. K. Rowling

Category: Young Adult Fantasy Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I tend to not read series, as I find that they are purposefully stretched out so the author can sell more books, but each Harry Potter can stand on its own as an enjoyable book. I loved Umbridge’s character. I found it to be unique to have the villain in this novel but overly sweet and dressed in all pink. I found myself actually despising this fictional character and being stressed out about her treatment of Harry and the other students.

27. Carrie by: Stephen King

Category: Horror

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I don’t know why it took me so long to read Stephen King’s first book! It was amazing and a very quick read. As many people know, Carrie is about a teenage girl with telekinetic powers who is bullied horribly by her classmates and abused by her overly religious mother. The description King adds is wonderful and I was genuinely scared of Carrie at the end. This was an astounding start to his prolific career and I’m so happy I finally read it.

28. Bunny by: Mona Awad

Category: Horror

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: Like many other reviewers, my immediate thought after finishing this book was "What the fuck did I just read?"

Bunny is an odd blend of Frankenstein and The Secret History, two of my all-time favorite books. But after letting it sit for a couple of hours after finishing the book, it's only a 3-star read for me. As a horror book, it did its job and frightened me sufficiently to the point of nightmares. However, it was lacking in making me feel an emotional connection to the characters. Maybe combining two of your favorite things doesn't always produce a positive result, like blending pizza with ice cream.

29. A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by: Laura Taylor Namey

Category: Young Adult Romance

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Review: I typically do not enjoy romance novels, especially not YA. I only bought this book because it was about a Cuban girl from Miami, like me. But that is where the enjoyment ends. The main character is insufferably selfish and her love interest is so dull and lacking in personality. I only finished this because I hate not finishing books. Reading about Miami was comforting and a bit nostalgic since I no longer live there. However, if this was about any other culture, it would have been a one-star read for me.

30. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by: J. K. Rowling

Category: Young Adult Fantasy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: The penultimate book in the Harry Potter series was surprisingly sad. A book has not made me cry in a long-time, but this one did. I loved seeing Harry and Professor Dumbledore’s relationship grow in this book. It was also great to learn more about Tom Riddle’s past. This book really humanized him as a villain and gives the reader more background as to why he became the horrible person that he is.

31. I’m Thinking of Ending Things by: Iain Reid

Category: Horror

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: Holy. Shit. Wow. I know it is too early to decide this, but this may be my favorite book of 2021. This is about a couple driving to visit the boyfriend’s parents but the girlfriend is thinking of breaking up with him. The twist is something that I can’t imagine any reader saw coming. Aside from the traditional horror scenes, there are some wonderful existential discussions that they have in the car, which makes this book stand out from the crowd.

Although this is not a movie review, the Netflix adaptation was so utterly disappointing and the only aspect that was worth anything in the movie was Toni Collette’s performance.

32. ‘Salem’s Lot by: Stephen King

Category: Horror

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Review: What a disappointing book. I’ve heard this is Stephen King’s mixture of The Haunting of Hill House and Dracula, but I found it to be incredibly dull. As with many of King’s earlier works, there is so much background and detail provided that does nothing to move the story forward. Towards the end, I felt nothing for the characters and honestly wanted the vampires to kill them just so this book could finally be done. It is two stars instead of one because once it finally got to the action, it was horrifying and wonderfully written.

33. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Category: Horror

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This story was unique with some incredibly unnerving scenes. It was three stars for me because, for a lot of it, I wasn’t sure what was happening and why I needed to know this information about the characters. However, I will never be able to look at an elk again without being afraid. Also, amongst all of the traditional horror, there was a sweet ending.

34. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by: J. K. Rowling

Category: Young Adult Fantasy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: What a perfect and heart-breaking ending to this series. My favorite part was that we learned more about Snape’s background and he received his redemption arc. This is a series I will be re-reading every year.

35. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by: J. K. Rowling

Category: Young Adult Fantasy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I decided to listen to this audiobook after finishing the Harry Potter series and wanting more from it. I thought it was a brilliant idea to put out the textbooks that the Hogwarts students had to read. This book is a collection of child stories for wizards and witches, with an explanation by Headmaster Dumbledore. The audiobook was outstanding with enthusiastic voice acting and sound effects.

36. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by: J. K. Rowling

Category: Young Adult Fantasy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This is another book that I read after wanting more Harry Potter in my life. It was one of the textbooks that the students at Hogwarts had to purchase. I enjoyed learning about all the magical creatures in the Hogwarts universe. The audiobook was fun as they included sound effects but I would like the read a physical copy to see the illustrations of the creatures.

37. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by: J. K. Rowling

Category: Young Adult Fantasy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I understand why so many long-time Harry Potter fans are upset with this book. In comparison to the other books in the series, this was a little dull and unnecessary as the seventh book ended perfectly. This book follows Harry and Ginny’s son Albus as he tries to become his own person and not live in his father’s shadow. I did not regret reading it and it was quick to read as it is a script for a play.

38. Plato’s Apology

Category: Philosophy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This felt like something I should have read in school but never did. I know the story of Socrates’ trial but it was nice to read Plato’s account of what Socrates said. The audiobook I listened to was a bit overdone with the voice acting, but enjoyable nonetheless.

39. Lock Every Door by: Riley Sager

Category: Thriller

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This book has everything I could want from a thriller. The main character just lost her job and caught her boyfriend cheating on her. She is down on her luck and finds a job posting seeking an apartment sitter, paying $4,000 a month in a luxury apartment in New York. As expected, anything that appears too good to be true probably is. Towards the end of the book, it was alluding to a demonic reason for all the horrific things happening in the apartment complex, but I am happy that that was not the way the story went.

Stay up to date with what I’m currently reading and reviewing on my Goodreads account.