Reading Roundup #64: Dangerous Dames

Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night! Or a bumpy blog post, I should say. One book nearly wrecked my engine, but after that, the reading machine ran like a dream, with one hit book after another. But one common denominator in these books is the focus on confident women who pursue their goals — and their men — with determination and style.

First — and with my apologies to the fans — let’s address the elephant in the room: Our Violent Ends (These Violent Delights #2) by Chloe Gong. As with the first book, the sequel is a decent story pulled down by the bloated corpse that is the writing. Unlike the first book, however, I’m unwilling to make allowances for a young writer, as there’s no discernible attempt at improvement. Gong’s compulsion to drag every piece of subtext, kicking and screaming, into the text undercuts the tension and emotional impact, and it’s just plain bad writing. Show, don’t tell, please. These issues are all the more frustrating because there is the potential for something good here, if only there were an ounce of subtlety and restraint. A firm editor is all this book and Gong need to improve, and it’s sad to see a young talent left to flounder. I, for one, won’t be sticking around for more punishment.

Thank you, next! Onward to the good stuff.

By the Book (Meant to Be #2) by Jasmine Guillory: An honest to goodness romcom! Hallelujah! I feel like most of my romcom reads lately have been fine enough but with one issue or another that left me conflicted. By the Book, however, knew exactly what it was trying to do and did it well, delivering a breezy, whimsical take on the “Beauty and the Beast” tale (but without the magic), while also touching upon some very real experiences, like being the only person of color in a predominately white industry and losing your joy in something when it becomes your job. Plus, I love a couple that bonds over snacking. My thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I promised myself that if I survived Our Violent Ends (it was touch-and-go for a while) and finished my two arcs that were due (By the Book and The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale), I could reward myself with the latest Gaslight Mystery, which I was SO DELIGHTED to receive as an ARC from Berkley. Honestly, seeing that approval come through on NetGalley was an answer to prayer — one of the happiest moments of my year so far. And, y’all, it does not disappoint.

Murder on Madison Square (Gaslight Mysteries #25) by Victoria Thompson: Thompson’s Gaslight Mysteries have become true comfort reads for me. While the whodunnit answer is usually obvious, the true appeal lies in watching the characters solve the puzzle and in spending time with them as they do. And okay, maybe I shouted at them a couple times in this book because they’ve run into this particular family dynamic enough times that they should have suspected the truth sooner (indeed, it may be time for Thompson to shelve it), but sometimes it’s nice to have a predictable mystery so you can simply enjoy the characters and the familiar formula — and that’s exactly why Thompson remains at the top of my wishlist and pre-order list every year. And knowing her usual release schedule, my countdown to the next Counterfeit Lady book begins…. now! My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Single Indemnity (Phoenix Pictures #2) by Brianne Gillen: This book is a damn delight. Set at a fictional studio in 1940s Hollywood, Single Indemnity is filled with nods to classic screwball comedies of the era and was clearly written by a kindred spirit. And for someone exactly like meeeeeee. Take one independent career woman and her made-up husband, add an endearingly awkward hunky screenwriter, and what do you get? Shenanigans and high heat! With sparks flying and a non-existent husband causing trouble, the duo is in over their heads, and sneaking around has never been so much fun. I went in with dangerously high expectations (I’ve been burned by this genre before), and I found a true diamond in the rough. A little polish is needed, but even as-is, this is a new favorite, and I’m officially naming Gillen One to Watch. Here’s lookin’ at you, kid. My thanks to author Brianne Gillen for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

—b

P.S. Because it has already been a rough week for women here in the U.S., today’s tune is an anthem from the queen of brassy jazz-pop, Nikki Yanofsky. Stay strong, friends, and take care of yourselves and each other.