Book Reviews by Title - Coffee, Stars, Books - Page 12

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Yes No Maybe So Book Review

Yes No Maybe So Book Review

February 3, 2020

Zenith Book Review

Zenith Book Review

July 21, 2018

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A little Shelfie Sunday. I've been reorganising my

A little Shelfie Sunday. I've been reorganising my shelves recently (I like to go by vibes and themes within genres) and embossing all the books I want to keep. My office/library is still an absolute mess, but I'm getting there!

#shelfie #shelfiesunday #bookshelves

"She was of course underpaid and overworked, but t

"She was of course underpaid and overworked, but this condition was common among graduate students and no one cared much about it".

Katabasis nails the brutal reality of academia: imposter syndrome, toxic competitiveness, and the exploitation of students, all while still honouring the genuine joy of intellectual work. As a Dark Academia novel, it's surreal, sharp and relatable- a descent into Hell populated by academics who'd do anything to get ahead. Kuang beautifully balances critique with reverence, and for me it hits all the notes I love in this genre. 5 stars ⭐

Have you read Katabasis yet? What did you think?

#katabasis #bookreview #darkacademia #RFKuang

My top 2 books of 2025 V.E. Schwab is my favourit

My top 2 books of 2025

V.E. Schwab is my favourite author, so I fully expected that when Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil came out, I would love it. And really, what is not to love? The story is about vampires, three LGBTQ+ women trying to claim their own identity and agency in various centuries, and it has this gorgeous slow, poetic writing style I've come to associate with Schwab. I am not at all surprised it launched itself to the top of my list.

I am surprised that it wasn't my book of the year. But Blood Over Bright Haven really truly sat with me, and I couldn't not give it the recognition for that. What a book. I didn't like it initially. Chapter 1 felt weird considering the synopsis, and it felt even more jarring with chapter 2. But it got better. Much better! I love how this book discusses intersectionality, critiques academia, and follows a deeply flawed main character. It's a testament to how great a writer M.L. Wang is that you can still like aspects of the protagonist even while you find her deeply ignorant and hypocritical. And the ending... wow. If you loved the themes of Babel, I definitely recommend BoBH.

What were some of your favourite books of 2025? 📖

#topbooksof2025 #booksofinstagram #buryourbonesinthemidnightsoil #bloodoverbrighthaven

Girl Dinner mini review: 4.5 ⭐ I have a complicat

Girl Dinner mini review: 4.5 ⭐

I have a complicated relationship with Olivie Blake's work. I'm always drawn to her premises, but the execution often falls short for me- The Atlas Six and One For My Enemy were missed for me. So I approached Girl Dinner with caution, despite it including many themes I love such as female rage, academia, and horror.

To my surprise, I adored it.

Girl Dinner offers sharp, insightful explorations of female rage, power, and agency. Set within a quietly oppressive academic environment, the novel interrogates what empowerment actually looks like for women, and whether that means "having a seat at the table" or choosing to reject the table entirely. The tension between the different positions feels nuanced and resonant.

The horror elements are a bit slow, but the true unease lies in the slow, psychological build. I found Sloane's anger and sense of entrapment fascinating, and the exploration of motherhood from her perspective was compelling, especially as she is also an academic and therefore forced to deal with the more toxic aspects of academia.

The pacing is slow and the end is a little opaque, which kept it from being a 5 star read for me, but Girl Dinner surprised me in the best way, and definitely makes me want to try Blake's novels again in the future.

Has anyone else read this? What did you think?

What are you currently reading? I picked up Falle

What are you currently reading?

I picked up Fallen Stars after absolutely devouring Heavenly Bodies. There's a lot going on in the plot, and the romance was really angsty. I'm only about 100 pages into this one, but hoping to finish it soon.

#currentlyreading #fallenstars #imanierriu

Happy 2026, friends ❤ Here's to a year of living

Happy 2026, friends ❤

Here's to a year of living deliberately, of doing what you enjoy because you enjoy it, of picking up that book that's been on your shelf forever because maybe it's finally time. Here's to pouring yourself a fresh cup of coffee, lighting a candle, eating a pastry while you're wandering new worlds because you want the full cosy experience, and you deserve it.

Here's to everyone who wants to read this year, whether you read two books or a hundred. So long as you're happy, that's really all you need.

I'm not making a firm resolution this year, but I'd like to try and look after myself more. Sometimes that will look like forcing myself to go to the gym when it's cold outside, and sometimes that will look like spending an extra half-hour in bed and ignoring that voice in my head insisting that I need to get up and do things. 2025 was a weird year, between losing our gorgeous Zed, job insecurity, and getting the ADHD diagnosis, but I think I have the tools I need now to keep building the life I want to live 😁

#shelfie #sprayededges #happynewyear

Ashe Theme by Royal-Flush - 2026 ©

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